https://www.sciencedaily.com/news/fossils_ruins/anthropology/ Anthropology News. Read about early human culture, civilizations and latest discoveries at ancient sites in our anthropology news. en-us Thu, 24 Sep 2026 00:24:30 EDT Thu, 24 Sep 2026 00:24:30 EDT 60 https://www.sciencedaily.com/images/scidaily-logo-rss.png https://www.sciencedaily.com/news/fossils_ruins/anthropology/ For more science news, visit ScienceDaily. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260922005805.htm Scandinavian museums are trying to move beyond the familiar image of Vikings as sword-wielding male warriors, highlighting women, farmers, traders, and a far more complicated society. But the enduring popularity of the Viking myth means exhibitions often balance historical accuracy with stories that reflect modern ideas about national identity and culture. Wed, 23 Sep 2026 06:58:43 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260922005805.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260922005715.htm Stonehenge’s six-ton Altar Stone may have been carried from Scotland to Dogger Bank by glaciers before prehistoric people transported it hundreds of kilometers to Salisbury Plain. The possible multistage journey suggests remarkable organization and raises the possibility that the stone was valued long before it became part of Stonehenge. Wed, 23 Sep 2026 06:26:41 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260922005715.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260919031035.htm Researchers may have solved a long-running mystery surrounding the Dead Sea Scrolls by proposing that the Qumran sect really did use its distinctive 364-day calendar. Its perfectly ordered 52-week system kept holidays on the same weekdays, but it slowly drifted out of sync with the seasons because it was shorter than the true solar year. Sun, 20 Sep 2026 07:58:13 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260919031035.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260919031020.htm Chemical clues preserved inside fossilized T. rex teeth reveal that the dinosaur maintained a body temperature of about 97 degrees Fahrenheit, almost identical to humans. The finding provides direct evidence that the giant predator was warm-blooded, helping explain how it stayed active and survived in chilly environments as far north as Alaska. Sun, 20 Sep 2026 01:56:26 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260919031020.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260918024807.htm A 150-million-year-old dinosaur fossil from Spain has been identified as the first confirmed Diplodocus ever found outside North America. The giant sauropod measured about 25 meters long and was preserved well enough for researchers to match distinctive features in its tail bones to the famous genus. Its unexpected appearance in Europe suggests dinosaurs were moving between the continents during the Late Jurassic, possibly across temporary land connections. Fri, 18 Sep 2026 22:51:08 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260918024807.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260915232128.htm A newly identified 240-million-year-old animal from Tanzania is forcing scientists to rethink the early dinosaur timeline. Dinodontosaurus isiyavamanda belongs to a group previously known only from South America, linking fossil deposits on the two continents. That connection suggests Tanzania’s supposed oldest dinosaur fossils may actually be millions of years younger than previously thought. Wed, 16 Sep 2026 09:48:08 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260915232128.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260914102443.htm Microscopic plant remains are revealing how GunaiKurnai ancestors used Cloggs Cave for ritual practices over thousands of years. People deliberately gathered whole grasses, carried them into the dark cave, and burned them in thin layers, leaving behind traces that may span 25,000 years. A standing stone erected around 2,000 years ago and other ritual objects strengthen the evidence that the cave was a long-lived spiritual site. Tue, 15 Sep 2026 10:43:23 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260914102443.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260914102436.htm A 125-million-year-old crocodile fossil has revealed preserved skin, possible sensory organs, sophisticated respiratory structures, and an unexpected pattern on its tail. Ultraviolet light exposed alternating bands that may represent ancient camouflage, potentially preserving the oldest known coloration in a crocodylomorph. Tue, 15 Sep 2026 10:07:13 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260914102436.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260913082203.htm Ancient DNA reveals that plague was already killing hunter-gatherers in Siberia 5,500 years ago, long before cities and flea-driven epidemics. The prehistoric strains may have been especially dangerous because they carried a genetic factor capable of provoking severe immune reactions. Mon, 14 Sep 2026 22:54:45 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260913082203.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260912220100.htm Mount Etna’s ancient eruptions followed radically different paths, with some magma lingering near the surface for weeks while other magma raced upward from nearly 30 kilometers deep in just hours. Scientists traced the difference to volcanic gases such as carbon dioxide and water, offering a powerful new way to understand and potentially anticipate explosive eruptions. Sun, 13 Sep 2026 23:18:35 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260912220100.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260911003849.htm A feather discovered inside 66-million-year-old fossilized dinosaur poop may help explain why modern birds survived the asteroid catastrophe. The extinct bird it came from had more primitive insulating feathers, suggesting superior plumage may have helped the ancestors of living birds endure the deadly impact winter. Fri, 11 Sep 2026 19:47:16 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260911003849.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260909231746.htm While clearing debris to protect ancient Egyptian tombs from flash floods, researchers near Luxor stumbled upon an unknown 3,000-year-old tomb. Its remarkably preserved paintings depict an official named Paser, his wife, religious scenes, and offerings of food and flowers. The discovery comes as climate-driven flooding poses a growing threat to these fragile remains. Thu, 10 Sep 2026 06:35:52 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260909231746.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260909231735.htm Scientists have used DNA from living descendants to identify four more members of the doomed Franklin expedition, including Harry Peglar, whose identity had remained uncertain for 166 years. The findings offer new clues about the sailors who survived for years in the Arctic before joining the expedition’s ultimately fatal escape attempt. Thu, 10 Sep 2026 08:46:43 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260909231735.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260909231705.htm Ancient human remains from Sulawesi suggest people were habitually using the psychoactive betel nut as far back as 25,000 years ago. Researchers found both unusual tooth wear and traces of arecoline, the nut’s mind-altering compound, in the teeth of prehistoric hunter-gatherers. The practice may have started partly as pain relief for toothaches, but prolonged use severely damaged their teeth. The discovery could represent the earliest known evidence of habitual drug use anywhere in the world. Thu, 10 Sep 2026 03:58:25 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260909231705.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260909005203.htm More than 400,000-year-old Homo erectus teeth from China may reveal a surprising link between this ancient human species, Denisovans, and some modern people. Scientists found protein mutations suggesting several East Asian Homo erectus populations belonged to the same evolutionary group, including one mutation previously associated with Denisovans. That variant may have passed from Homo erectus into Denisovans and eventually reached modern populations in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Wed, 09 Sep 2026 22:18:08 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260909005203.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260909005152.htm Britain’s towering Devil’s Arrows were built from 25-tonne stones hauled at least 18 kilometers from Brimham Rocks around 4,000 years ago. The discovery reveals an astonishing feat of prehistoric engineering and suggests the stones’ distant source may have been chosen for cultural or spiritual reasons. Wed, 09 Sep 2026 03:41:21 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260909005152.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260907201603.htm Scientists have identified a giant new dinosaur from Brazil that reached about 20 meters long and lived 120 million years ago. Its surprising evolutionary ties to a Spanish dinosaur suggest its ancestors crossed ancient land connections between Europe, Africa, and South America. Tue, 08 Sep 2026 08:42:29 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260907201603.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260906170138.htm A rediscovered memoir reveals that celebrated War of 1812 veteran Shadrack Byfield was far more rebellious and troubled than history has portrayed, battling chronic pain, poverty, authorities, and even rivals at his local chapel. The soldier who buried his own amputated arm and invented a custom prosthesis spent decades fiercely fighting for the pension and independence he believed he had earned. Mon, 07 Sep 2026 04:26:02 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260906170138.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260903064233.htm Archaeologists have identified tiny 80,000-year-old projectile points in Uzbekistan that may have been used like arrowheads. Their size, design, and impact damage closely resemble weapons found much later at a Homo sapiens site in France. The discovery suggests sophisticated projectile technology may have appeared in Central Asia long before modern humans became firmly established in Europe, potentially rewriting a major chapter of human migration. Sat, 05 Sep 2026 20:46:25 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260903064233.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260831015200.htm A meter-long scorpion with massive pincers stalked ancient Britain 415 million years ago, long before forests and the better-known age of giant insects. Its surprising size and possible semi-aquatic lifestyle could reshape ideas about how early arthropods became giants. Wed, 02 Sep 2026 09:23:16 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260831015200.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260829235942.htm Wild monkeys in West Africa can climb vertical tree trunks using foot flexibility scientists did not realize they possessed. The discovery challenges a key assumption about what the last common ancestor of humans and chimpanzees looked like and how it moved. Mon, 31 Aug 2026 08:38:26 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260829235942.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260829035221.htm Ancient footprints in Kenya reveal that eight Paranthropus boisei may have traveled together 1.4 million years ago, with some individuals reaching surprisingly large, human-like body sizes. The tracks offer a rare glimpse of their social behavior and suggest these extinct human relatives may have lived in more complex groups than previously thought. Sun, 30 Aug 2026 11:17:06 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260829035221.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260828082348.htm Weapons buried with ancient Egyptian princesses may have been more than ceremonial decorations. Researchers studying royal mummies from Dahshur found bone changes consistent with years of archery and other strenuous weapon use. Several women also showed evidence of healed injuries, suggesting surprisingly active lifestyles that may have included hunting or military training. Sun, 30 Aug 2026 05:30:18 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260828082348.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260827010455.htm Ancient fossils suggest insects conquered land through a long amphibious phase rather than making an abrupt jump from water to dry ground. A newly identified 324-million-year-old species still carried paddle-like abdominal limbs, revealing an evolutionary bridge between aquatic ancestors and modern six-legged insects. Thu, 27 Aug 2026 03:22:34 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260827010455.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260824065549.htm Three forgotten Assyrian kings may have been hiding in plain sight for more than 2,700 years. By piecing together clues from tablets, inscriptions, and an ancient statue, researchers argue that these rulers were omitted from the famous Assyrian King List. Tue, 25 Aug 2026 21:20:06 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260824065549.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260820202907.htm Scientists analyzing a 2,200-year-old Roman shipwreck found that its hull was coated with pine tar and, in one area, a mixture of tar and beeswax. Pollen trapped in those ancient coatings acted like a geographic fingerprint, revealing the landscapes surrounding the ship when repairs were made. Fri, 21 Aug 2026 05:28:51 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260820202907.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260820202902.htm A tiny, fully intact Indigenous pot buried for roughly 400 years has left archaeologists wondering why such a usable object was deliberately abandoned. Found at a historic Potano-Timucua village in Florida, the mysterious vessel is helping reveal a complex world of Native traditions, Spanish influence, trade, and migration. Fri, 21 Aug 2026 22:58:44 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260820202902.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260820002450.htm Scientists have identified exceptionally rare soft tissue preserved in a 450-million-year-old crinoid fossil, more than 200 million years older than the first dinosaurs. Its delicate tube feet offer a remarkable new window into how some of Earth’s earliest reef animals lived, fed, and evolved. Thu, 20 Aug 2026 21:12:03 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260820002450.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260820002413.htm The human family tree may be due for a major rewrite. Researchers argue that Australopithecus and Paranthropus should be folded into the genus Homo because new fossils have blurred many of the traits once used to separate them. The proposed shake-up could provide a simpler, more accurate picture of our surprisingly complicated evolutionary past. Thu, 20 Aug 2026 06:42:59 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260820002413.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260819041226.htm Miocene South America was packed with giant prey—and the predators hunting them were just as spectacular. Fossil bite marks suggest crocodylians, especially the enormous Purussaurus neivensis, were more important predators than mammals in this ancient tropical ecosystem. At around seven meters long, Purussaurus may even have helped control populations of giant herbivores. Wed, 19 Aug 2026 05:55:34 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260819041226.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260819041218.htm A tomb in Egypt’s Theban Necropolis reveals a surprisingly organized story of burial, reuse, and changing beliefs spanning hundreds of years. Researchers found 16 mummified people, the remains of at least four more, and a mummified dog, with burials ranging from wealthy individuals laid in coffins with amulets and imported goods to later bodies carefully stacked in increasingly crowded spaces. Wed, 19 Aug 2026 04:57:10 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260819041218.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260815064811.htm Scientists are searching some of Earth’s oldest rocks for tiny fossils that could reveal how simple microbial life made the extraordinary leap toward plants, animals, and other complex organisms. Solving that ancient mystery may also help determine whether complex life could emerge on worlds beyond Earth. Mon, 17 Aug 2026 08:40:17 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260815064811.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260814235837.htm Scientists have discovered a new extinct amphibian species hiding in the fossil collections of Los Angeles’ La Brea Tar Pits. Named Spea labreae, the Ice Age spadefoot toad is an exceptionally rare find—only one other extinct Pleistocene amphibian has ever been identified in North America. Its bones had been sitting in collections since the 1950s before a researcher noticed features that set it apart from known species. Sun, 16 Aug 2026 03:33:36 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260814235837.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260813045555.htm Fossils collected in Osaka more than 30 years ago have revealed a surprise hiding in plain sight: four previously unrecognized bones from a giant Cretaceous mosasaur. Among them is the first confirmed premaxilla—the frontmost bone of the upper jaw—ever identified in a Japanese mosasaur fossil. Even more intriguing, parts of the skull show unusual anatomical features that don’t match known mosasaurs, raising the possibility that the remains belong to an entirely new species. Sat, 15 Aug 2026 10:19:45 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260813045555.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260811053042.htm Researchers have found strong evidence that original collagen can survive inside dinosaur fossils for tens of millions of years, overturning a long-standing assumption about fossilization. The discovery could unlock hidden molecular clues about dinosaur biology, evolution, and how ancient proteins managed to survive for so long. Fri, 14 Aug 2026 05:51:50 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260811053042.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260811011143.htm Ancient remains from Vietnam suggest diseases like yaws may have been passed from mother to child thousands of years ago, a form of transmission often assumed to indicate syphilis. The discovery could overturn how scientists interpret ancient infections and complicate the long-running mystery of syphilis’s origins. Wed, 12 Aug 2026 09:05:58 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260811011143.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260811011134.htm Scientists probing life’s deepest origins have uncovered evidence that the first free-living cells may have emerged not once, but twice. The findings suggest a striking possibility: life may share one ancient genetic code, yet have undergone two separate transitions into free-living existence. Wed, 12 Aug 2026 01:32:21 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260811011134.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260811011129.htm A forgotten fragment of a lost papal letter is offering a surprising new explanation for the Norman Conquest. England may have backed the wrong pope during a bitter religious power struggle, giving Pope Alexander II a political reason to support William the Conqueror’s invasion. The discovery suggests Harold’s downfall in 1066 was shaped by intrigue in Rome as well as bloodshed at Hastings. Tue, 11 Aug 2026 07:30:24 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260811011129.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260810015723.htm Researchers can now recover DNA from centuries-old parchment without damaging the manuscripts, turning historic documents into unexpected genetic time capsules. The hidden clues could reveal ancient trade routes, livestock history, manuscript origins, and details of everyday life stretching back more than a thousand years. Mon, 10 Aug 2026 22:08:08 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260810015723.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260810015700.htm Dogs have been shaping—and being shaped by—humans for about 15,000 years, evolving from early partners of hunter-gatherers into an astonishing range of specialized companions. Across the globe, they adapted alongside people to wildly different environments and needs, from powerful Arctic sled dogs and agile rainforest hunters to high-altitude dogs with genetic traits for surviving thin air. Some were even bred for wool, while others played important spiritual or ceremonial roles. Mon, 10 Aug 2026 01:57:00 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260810015700.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260808235013.htm More than 60,000 years ago, humans in southern Africa were engraving ostrich eggshells with intricate geometric patterns that appear far more organized than previously realized. Researchers found recurring grids, parallel lines, right angles, and repeated shapes, suggesting the designs followed deliberate rules rather than being improvised. The engravers may even have planned entire patterns in their minds before carving them. Sun, 09 Aug 2026 07:51:37 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260808235013.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260808234956.htm A 240-million-year-old reptile discovered in Brazil is revealing what evolution looked like just before the rise of dinosaurs and crocodiles. The small predator had unusually positioned legs that may have allowed it to move more efficiently than many earlier reptiles. Its close relatives were previously known mostly from other continents, suggesting these ancient animals spread much farther across the Triassic world than scientists realized. Mon, 10 Aug 2026 07:40:02 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260808234956.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260807035143.htm CT scans of the world’s rarest dodo skulls suggest the extinct bird may have had a stronger sense of smell, a highly sensitive beak, and a lifestyle that extended into dawn and dusk. The discoveries are helping overturn centuries-old myths and reveal a far more complex animal than the famously “dumb” dodo of popular imagination. Sat, 08 Aug 2026 20:19:12 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260807035143.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260806050721.htm More than 5,000 years after his death, Ötzi the Iceman is still hosting a remarkable mix of ancient and modern microorganisms. Researchers separated microbes that lived in his body during his lifetime from those that arrived after his death, uncovering traces of his original gut bacteria and cold-loving yeasts that may have survived alongside him in the glacier for millennia. Fri, 07 Aug 2026 00:24:49 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260806050721.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260805082500.htm Several enormous Megalodon vertebrae thought to have been destroyed in 1989 were found sitting unnoticed on a museum shelf. Their analysis strengthens evidence that the giant shark could exceed 24 meters (79 feet) in length and live for nearly a century. Researchers also estimate that its newborns may have measured an astonishing 3.6 meters (12 feet). Thu, 06 Aug 2026 22:57:08 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260805082500.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260804034644.htm A spectacular fossil site in Canada contains 567-million-year-old creatures that may represent some of the earliest animals to move, reproduce sexually, and develop recognizable body plans. The discovery pushes key evolutionary milestones back by up to 10 million years and suggests complex animal life may have first flourished in the deep ocean. Wed, 05 Aug 2026 20:33:35 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260804034644.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260804034619.htm An exceptionally preserved snake fossil from Brazil reveals that early snakes were far more diverse than scientists once thought. Detailed brain reconstructions show that Tametara mirim was adapted for burrowing, while another ancient snake was suited to life above ground. Other fossils point to marine lifestyles as well. By 80 million years ago, snakes were already experimenting with very different habitats and sensory systems. Wed, 05 Aug 2026 07:42:51 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260804034619.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260803080906.htm A tiny 518-million-year-old sea creature has revealed the earliest known evidence of the structures that eventually became spiders’ fangs. Hidden inside the fossil were pincerlike limbs and preserved soft tissues that help explain how the ancestors of spiders and scorpions evolved into formidable hunters. Tue, 04 Aug 2026 09:18:10 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260803080906.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260803080859.htm DNA traces in the Shroud of Turin reveal a remarkable mixture of human lineages, microbes, plants, animals, and coral accumulated through centuries of handling and travel. The findings do not prove its age or authenticity, but they expose a hidden biological history preserved in the famous cloth. Tue, 04 Aug 2026 05:49:21 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260803080859.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260801093740.htm A massive crocodilian capable of attacking dinosaurs has been brought back to life as the first scientifically accurate mounted skeleton of Deinosuchus schwimmeri. The 31-foot replica at Georgia’s Tellus Science Museum was built from detailed fossil scans and more than 40 years of research by paleontologist Dr. David Schwimmer, for whom the species was named. Wed, 05 Aug 2026 06:50:56 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260801093740.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260731034139.htm Modern humans carry DNA from two mysterious extinct lineages in addition to Neanderthals and Denisovans. Their hidden genetic legacy shows that our evolutionary past was shaped by repeated mixing among many different human groups. Fri, 31 Jul 2026 21:58:37 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260731034139.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260729010732.htm A fossil overlooked for nearly 80 years has revealed a previously unknown crocodile relative that lived 210 million years ago in what is now New Mexico. Named Eosphorosuchus lacrimosa, the jackal-sized predator had a reinforced skull, powerful jaw muscles, and a short snout built for tackling larger prey. Thu, 30 Jul 2026 02:34:21 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260729010732.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260729010730.htm As Mohenjo-daro prospered, the gap between its richest and poorest households actually shrank. Its shared infrastructure, fair trade systems, and lack of powerful royal elites suggest that equality may have helped fuel the ancient city’s success. Thu, 30 Jul 2026 09:02:20 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260729010730.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260727214619.htm A new analysis has precisely dated paintings in France’s Font-de-Gaume cave for the first time. Scientists discovered charcoal inside black pigments once thought to contain only minerals, allowing them to use radiocarbon dating. The results show that a bison was painted about 13,000 years ago, while sections of a mask-like figure were added during several widely separated periods. Tue, 28 Jul 2026 07:16:44 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260727214619.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260726015301.htm Early humans in England crafted a rare piece of elephant bone into a reusable hammer for sharpening stone tools nearly 500,000 years ago. The extraordinary find reveals that ancient toolmakers were resourceful, skilled, and capable of surprisingly advanced planning. Mon, 27 Jul 2026 08:36:16 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260726015301.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260723084852.htm A newly identified fossil ape from northern Egypt is reshaping ideas about where the ancestors of modern apes first emerged. Analyses place it closer to living apes than any known East African species of the same age, pointing to North Africa and the Middle East as a possible birthplace and crossroads for the ape lineage that eventually produced gibbons, orangutans, gorillas, chimpanzees, and humans. Fri, 24 Jul 2026 03:03:54 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260723084852.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260722032119.htm Fossils discovered in Japan more than two decades ago have finally been identified as a new genus and species of giant salamander. Limnospondylus ajimuensis lived around 3.5 million years ago in a warmer, wetter Kyushu and may have reached 1.1 meters in length. Its discovery hints that many more unknown giant salamanders could be hiding among fossils previously given the wrong classification. Thu, 23 Jul 2026 21:58:41 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260722032119.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260722032105.htm Ancient fern savannahs may have transformed parts of Europe into a wildfire-prone inferno during the end-Triassic mass extinction. New fossil evidence suggests the ferns repeatedly regrew after fires, creating fresh fuel that helped prolong the devastation. Wed, 22 Jul 2026 09:10:01 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260722032105.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260721000828.htm Ancient DNA from China’s vast 4,000-year-old Shimao settlement is revealing how one of East Asia’s earliest complex societies was organized. Researchers found that its people were largely descended from local Yellow River farming communities, but also had genetic ties to distant southern and steppe populations, pointing to extensive prehistoric contact. Tue, 21 Jul 2026 04:59:24 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260721000828.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260715083546.htm Fossils from Queensland suggest a newly recognized marsupial order may have survived in Australia for around 35 million years, rewriting part of the story of how the continent's unique mammals evolved. The discovery challenges the idea that Australia's marsupials all came from a single straightforward ancestral lineage. Sun, 19 Jul 2026 01:53:59 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260715083546.htm