prehistory
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‘Tall Nose’ Gene in Humans Was Inherited From Neanderthals
Researchers have identified a gene that is associated with taller noses in humans and found it likely comes from Neanderthals, an extinct hominin group intimately related to our own species.
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Remains of Neanderthal Family Found in Siberian Cave
Researchers looked at DNA extracted from the remains of 13 Neanderthals that lived in Asia about 54,000 years ago and found some surprising relationships among them.
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Sweet Potato DNA Challenges Theory That Polynesians Beat Columbus To America
Christopher Columbus reached the New World in 1492, but some experts say Polynesian explorers beat him to it. There’s little evidence to support this fringe theory, but scientists have pointed to the presence of sweet potatoes, a plant thought to be native to the Americas, in the South Pacific as potential proof. A genetic analysis…
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A Visit To The Weirdest Archaeological Site In North America
In the desert two hours northeast of Los Angeles, just outside the town of Barstow, there is a peculiar little place called the Calico Early Man Site. If you’ve driven either direction, from LA to Las Vegas or back, you’ve probably seen the sign for it, mysteriously and without any real information implying that the…