Tag: archaeology
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How Copper Smelters Accidentally Sparked the Birth of the Iron Age
Introduction: A Hidden Spark in Copper Minds The Iron Age is usually painted as a decisive leap from bronze to iron. Yet new research from Cranfield University suggests a more circuitous path: copper smelters may have stumbled upon iron metallurgy by experimenting with iron oxide as a flux. In doing so, they didn’t produce iron…
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Yunxian 2 Skull and the Rewriting of Human Origins in Asia
Reconstructing a fossil as a new scientific reference The Yunxian 2 skull, unearthed in Hubei and dated to roughly 940,000–1.1 million years ago, has become a case study in how modern methods transform archaeology into a testable science. In a Nature publication by María Martinón-Torres, Wu Xiujie, José María Bermúdez de Castro, and colleagues, the…
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Human Evolution Rewritten: Million-Year Skull Challenge to Homo erectus
In 1990, a long-studied skull kept in a museum drawer became the unlikely center of a scientific catapult. Dated to roughly one million years ago, it had for years been cited as a classic Homo erectus specimen—the archetype many researchers used to map the early spread of humanity. Then, a small team unveiled something unexpected:…
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LIV Golf in Adelaide: Controversy Over Pirltawardli Burial Site
Outcry over Pirltawardli protection and LIV plans Indigenous elders and native title holders in South Australia say they are distressed as the state weighs upgrading the North Adelaide golf course to host the Saudi-backed LIV tournament from 2028. The plan requires expanding the course, which would involve tearing up parts of the greens—despite warnings that…
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Indigenous Elders oppose LIV Golf upgrade that could disturb Pirltawardli burial site in Adelaide
Rising Tension Over Pirltawardli and the North Adelaide Upgrade The plan to host the Saudi-backed LIV Golf tournament in Adelaide from 2028 hinges on expanding the North Adelaide golf course, a move that would require tearing up sections of the course. Government documents acknowledge a “high probability” that remains lie beneath the surface about 1.5…
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Iron Emergence from Copper: Kvemo Bolnisi Discovery
Unearthing Kvemo Bolnisi: A 3,000-Year-Old Copper Workshop In the southern Caucasus, the Kvemo Bolnisi site in Georgia preserves a workshop dating back roughly three millennia. When archaeologists excavated the area in the mid-20th century, they unearthed caches of hematite, an iron oxide mineral, and extensive slag—byproducts of metal production. Based on those finds, the original…
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Million-Year-Old Skull Could Alter the Timeline of Human Evolution
A skull that could rewrite human history A digital reconstruction of a shattered skull unearthed in China in 1990, nicknamed Yunxian 2, is challenging long-held ideas about when and where humans split from their ancient relatives. Previously classified as Homo erectus, the fossil now appears to share features with later relatives such as Homo longi…
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Latest Preparations for the Grand Egyptian Museum Opening
Introduction to the Grand Egyptian Museum The Grand Egyptian Museum, set to open its doors in early November, represents a monumental addition to Cairo’s rich cultural landscape. With expectations running high, officials have been busy ensuring that every detail is perfect for this historic occasion. Final Preparations Unveiled During a recent phone call with media…
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Exploring Bronze Age Feasts and Their Vast Networks
Introduction to Bronze Age Feasts The Bronze Age, a pivotal period in human history, was marked by the advent of metalworking and the establishment of complex societies. One of the most fascinating aspects of this era is the way communities came together to celebrate feasts, forming vast networks across regions. Recent archaeological discoveries in the…
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Exploring Bronze Age Feasts and Their Networks
Introduction to Bronze Age Feasts The Bronze Age, a pivotal era in human history, is marked by significant advancements in technology and trade, but it is also rich with social aspects such as communal feasting. Recent archaeological findings have illuminated the vast networks that facilitated these gatherings, revealing the distances people traveled and the diverse…