Papers Viking Age Gotland: Burial Practices of Children Viking Age Children at Ihre, Gotland: Archaeological Insights into Identity and Gender Expression Within the heart of the Viking Age, on the island of Gotland in the Baltic Sea, a burial site yields intriguing insights into the lives of Viking children and adults. The Ihre burial ground, one of the By Sven • 4 min read
Papers Neolithic Cannibalism in Prehistoric Iberia: El Mirador Cave Neolithic Cannibalism at El Mirador Cave Archaeological Revelations from Sierra de Atapuerca In the heart of the Sierra de Atapuerca, El Mirador Cave has offered archaeologists a window into the mysterious practices of Neolithic people. Among the finds, human remains have painted a vivid picture of past behaviors hinting at By Caterina • 5 min read
Papers Unraveling Roman Lives: Perspectives from Bioarchaeology Roman Bioarchaeology: Unveiling Ancient Lives Through Scientific Discovery Roman Bioarchaeology: Unveiling Ancient Lives Through Scientific Discovery In the fascinating world of Roman bioarchaeology, osteobiography emerges as a revolutionary approach that transforms fragments of bone into compelling narratives of ancient lives. This pioneering methodology illuminates the experiences of ordinary Romans—women, By Jamie L • 5 min read
Papers Genetic and Cultural Dynamics in Bronze Age Austria Early Bronze Age Societies in Lower Austria Early Bronze Age Societies in Lower Austria: Interregional Connections and Social Transformations Interwoven across the landscapes of Lower Austria during the Early Bronze Age, archaeological investigations have unveiled a complex tapestry of interregional connections and cultural expressions that reflect a time of significant By Caterina • 5 min read
Papers Solving the Murder Mystery of Béla, Duke of Macsó, through Forensic and Genetic Archaeology Murder in Cold Blood? Forensic and Bioarchaeological Identification In the shadows of a medieval Dominican monastery on Margaret Island in Budapest, an extraordinary tale of murder and political intrigue is resurrected through groundbreaking forensic and bioarchaeological investigations. The male remains discovered in 1915 may belong to Béla, Duke of Macsó, By Sven • 4 min read
Papers The Justinian Plague in the Eastern Roman Empire The First Pandemic: Unearthing Yersinia pestis in Jerash The intrigue of the ancient city of Jerash, once a prominent urban hub in the Eastern Roman Empire, now holds a new layer of fascination for historians and archaeologists. Nestled just 330 kilometers from the initial outbreak's historical epicenter, Pelusium By Sven • 4 min read
Papers Tracing the Evolutionary Tapestry of North Africa Discovering the Genetic Background of North Africa North Africa, a region steeped in history and occupying a unique position in the Mediterranean basin, possesses a genetic diversity as varied and intriguing as its archaeological heritage. This vast region has long served as a vibrant crossroads of human civilization, nestled between By Jamie L • 5 min read
Papers Neanderthal Fat Factory: Discovering the Diet of Neanderthals The Neumark-Nord Site Recent archaeological research offers a captivating glimpse into the sophisticated subsistence strategies of Neanderthals at the Neumark-Nord site in Germany, around 125,000 years ago. This well-explored site provides a vivid image of the large-scale processing activities carried out by these ancient hunter-gatherers, fundamentally changing our understanding By Sven • 3 min read
Papers Eastern Mediterranean Genetic Influence in the Late Roman Republic Discovering the Eastern Mediterranean Genetic Influence in Central Italy Discovering the Eastern Mediterranean Genetic Influence in Central Italy The exploration into the genetic past of Central Italy reveals a fascinating tale of ancient connections between Italy and the Eastern Mediterranean regions. Archaeologists and geneticists, armed with modern DNA sequencing technology, By Caterina • 4 min read
Papers Prehistoric Interactions from Central China to the Mongolian Steppe Ancient Genomics in the Yellow River Bend The Yellow River Bend, a significant historical and archaeological region in China, has recently revealed new secrets through cutting-edge genomic research. This region, known for its richness in archaeological sites and cultural history, was a melting pot of ancient civilizations that served as By Caterina • 4 min read
Papers Genetic Origins of Scythians: An Archaeogenetic Odyssey In a scientific odyssey that unravels the enigma of the Scythians' genetic footprint, researchers including Tatiana V. Andreeva et al. have embarked on a thrilling expedition into the heart of ancient Scythia, a realm once mythically detailed by the Greek historian Herodotus. Stretching from the northern Black Sea coast By Caterina • 5 min read
Papers The Finnic Peoples of Russia: Comprehensive Analysis Using Genome-Wide and Y-Chromosomal Data The Genetic Adventure of the Finnic Peoples in Russia A Peek into the Ancient World Our journey into the genetic history of the Eastern Finnic peoples—Karelians, Veps, Votes, Ingrians, and Ingrian Finns—uncovers the rich tapestry woven over 3,000 years. Occupying vast territories of Northwestern Russia, these groups, By Sven • 4 min read
Papers Ancient DNA Unveils Secrets of the Norman Neolithic Elite Burial Practices Monumental Graves: The Fleury-sur-Orne Cemetery Monumental Graves: The Fleury-sur-Orne Cemetery The Fleury-sur-Orne cemetery in Normandy, France, stands out as a beacon of Neolithic history, revealing fascinating details about the societal hierarchies over 6,000 years ago. This site, a part of the so-called "Passy phenomenon" within the Cerny By Sven • 3 min read
Papers Ancient DNA Unveils Eastern Roots of Uralic Languages, Bridging Siberia and Europe Ancient DNA Unlocks the Origins of Uralic Languages Ancient DNA Unlocks the Origins of Uralic Languages In an extraordinary unveiling of prehistoric human journeys, a groundbreaking study has illuminated the enigmatic origins of the Uralic language family—spoken by communities today in Hungary, Finland, and Estonia. This remarkable research, spearheaded By Jamie L • 4 min read
Papers Napoleons 1812 Retreat: Unveiling the Ancient Pathogens That Ravaged the Grande Armée Historical Context: Napoleon's Grande Armée and the Russian Retreat In June of 1812, Napoleon Bonaparte commanded a massive force, often referred to as the Grande Armée, comprising around 500,000 to 600,000 soldiers, with the ambition of conquering Russia. However, after reaching Moscow, the army faced a By Caterina • 5 min read
Papers Genomic Analysis of 47 Ancient People from the Alps, close to where the Tyrolean Iceman Ötzi was found Tyrolean Iceman Genetics and Alpine Archaeological Heritage In the heart of the Eastern Italian Alps, the study of genetic diversity and structure reveals a historical tapestry woven from ancient genomes. This breathtaking region, famed for its iconic mountain passes like Passo del Brennero, was a crossroads for populations from the By Jamie L • 5 min read
Scenes from the famous Kalevala Papers Medieval Finland: Insights from Archaeogenetics Excavating Ancestral Ties: The Journey Through Ancient DNA in Finland In an ambitious endeavor to unravel the past, researchers have dived deep into the strands of ancient DNA extracted from three medieval cemeteries in Finland, shedding light on the genetic continuity and social complexities of our ancestors. The sites in By Sven • 4 min read
Papers Mapping the Ancient Pathogens: Unraveling the Evolutionary History of Human Disease in Eurasia By Sven • 4 min read
Papers Revisiting Skhūl I: New Insights into Ancient Burial Practices from 140,000 years ago in the Levant The Remarkable Skhūl I Child from Mount Carmel: A Window into Ancient Human Origins In an awe-inspiring piece of archaeological detective work, the bones of a child discovered back in 1931 have once again stirred the minds of scientists at the Skhūl Cave on Mount Carmel in Israel. This site By Caterina • 3 min read
Papers Ancient Corinth: The Genetic Connections Between a Greek Colony and Its Metropolis Ancient Greek Colonization: A Journey Through Time and Genetics Ancient Greek Colonization: A Journey Through Time and Genetics The Dawn of Greek Expansion The fascinating world of ancient Greek colonization, an era that marked a significant chapter in history, reveals a tapestry of migratory expeditions and cultural interplay. This period, By Caterina • 4 min read
Papers 5,000 Years of Genetic History in the South Caucasus: the Bronze Age to the Early Middle Ages Introduction to the Archaeological Findings The South Caucasus, sandwiched between the Greater and Lesser Caucasus mountain ranges, has long stood as a cultural and technological crossroads between Eastern Europe and Southwest Asia. This strategic location facilitated a lively interchange of ideas and innovations since prehistory, as most evidently seen in By Jamie L • 4 min read
Papers Skulls, Science, and Scandal: Gustaf Retzius and the Racial Theories of 19th-Century Scandinavia The Pälkäne Skull Odyssey: From Archaeological Specimen to Genetic Breakthroughs In a captivating blend of archaeology and cutting-edge genetics, the relics of ages past are now part of a groundbreaking investigation that merges history with modern science. Thirty-three skulls that once lay beneath the sacred soil of Pälkäne's By Sven • 3 min read
Papers Ancient DNA Unlocks the Mysteries of Northern Eurasia Ancient DNA Uncovers Uralic and Yeniseian Origins An electrifying discovery has come to light, unraveling the deep history of Northern Eurasia through the lens of ancient DNA. International researchers have pieced together the genomic puzzle of Uralic and Yeniseian language-speaking populations, offering one of the most expansive genetic panoramas to By Sven • 4 min read
