A Subtle Shift in the Nile May Explain the Rise of an Ancient African Empire
Recent research from the University of Michigan now provides a geological explanation for why this part of the Nile became the foundation for Kushite civilization.
ancient
Scientists Propose Our Eyes Evolved From This Ancient “Cyclops” Organ
Deep in human evolutionary history, before anything recognizable as a vertebrate existed, one of our oldest relatives had a single eye sitting on top of its head.
Missing for 2000 Years, the “Lost” Verses from This Ancient Greek Philosopher’s Writings Have Finally Been Discovered
A papyrologist at the University of Liège has made a remarkable discovery in the archives of the French Institute of Oriental Archaeology in Cairo.
AI Has Revealed Unexpected Connections Between Ancient Alphabets Across Continents
Historians have observed that some letters in the Armenian, Georgian, and Caucasian Albanian alphabets closely resemble characters in Ethiopic, the ancient script of the Horn of Africa.
Ancient DNA Reveals How Bronze Age Europeans Adapted to a Changing World
An interdisciplinary study recently published in Nature Communications provides a clearer picture of life in Central Europe between 1300 and 800 BCE, during the Urnfield culture.
Mysterious Greek Inscription Found in a Syrian Mosque Reopens Debate Over Roman “Temple of the Sun”
A mysterious inscription within the Great Mosque of Homs in Syria is raising new questions over the location of the Roman Temple of the Sun.
This Ancient Chinese Mind-Body Exercise Has a Major Heart Health Benefit, New Study Finds
Recent clinical trials show that baduanjin, a traditional Chinese mind-body exercise, can lower blood pressure as much as brisk walking.
This Remote Greek Peninsula May Preserve a Living Link to the Ancient World
A remote peninsula in southern Greece may hold a living genetic link to the ancient Mediterranean world.
Closer to Home: New DNA Analysis Reframes the Story of the “Beachy Head Woman”
For over a decade, the Roman-era skeleton known as the Beachy Head Woman has fueled discussions about the identity of the remains as well as migration in ancient Britain.
This Wild Potato May Rewrite What We Know About Life Before Farming
New research shows that a wild potato was carried across the region more than 10,000 years ago, helping it spread far beyond its natural range.
Ancient DNA Reveals a Virus That Learned to Live Inside the Human Genome
A virus that infects nearly all children early in life has, in rare cases, been present within human DNA for thousands of years.
A Jurassic-Era Discovery Reveals How Earth’s Orbit May Help Explain Why Some Shale Layers Are Rich in Oil
New research reveals the role of our planet's orbit in why some shale layers are rich in organic material.
Ancient Teeth Reveal a Surprise That Challenges Our Ideas on Early Migrations Into England
A recent bioarchaeological study shows that human migration in England continued from the end of Roman rule through the Norman Conquest.
Fossilized Bones Can Reveal Chemical Traces of Ancient Biology, New Research Demonstrates
A new study in Nature led by scientists at New York University reports that fossil bones as old as 3 million years still contain thousands of preserved metabolic molecules.
Archaeology in 2025: Here Are Several of This Year’s Most Fascinating Ancient Discoveries
Here’s a look at some of our favorite archaeological discoveries from 2025, and some of the greatest new insights we’ve obtained about the ancient world throughout the year.
4000-Year-Old Discovery Offers Breakthrough in the Mystery of What Fueled a Bronze Age Plague
Scientists have unraveled how an early form of Bronze Age plague that differed from the Black Death spread across Europe.
This Enigmatic Ancient Script Hidden Within the Dead Sea Scrolls Was Thought to be Indecipherable—Until Now
A researcher has solved one of the longstanding riddles of the Dead Sea Scrolls by deciphering a hidden script within the famous texts.
New Research Has Revealed a Big Surprise About Baby Dinosaurs, Upending Past Thinking About These Ancient Reptiles
Emerging research suggests that dinosaur babies didn’t just grow into adults—they transformed their environments.
Lost for 3,000 Years, an Ancient Babylonian Hymn Has Been Restored Using Artificial Intelligence
A team of researchers has used artificial intelligence to restore a 3,000-year-old Babylonian hymn inscribed on cuneiform tablets.
Oldest Alphabet Discovered in Ancient Syrian Tomb Redefines History of Writing
A research team at Johns Hopkins University has discovered evidence of the world's oldest alphabetic writing, carved onto finger-length clay cylinders, outdating other scripts by 500 years.
Penis Worms Unseat Hermit Crabs as First to Live “Hermit Life”
Sorry hermit crabs, but you weren’t the first to steal other folk’s discarded homes and make them your...
Coronavirus Wrote Itself Into Our DNA 20,000 Years Ago, New Study Says
Studying Human DNA, Geneticists Found That There Was a Coronavirus Epidemic In Our Ancient Past
Studying Human DNA, Geneticists Found That There Was a Coronavirus Epidemic In Our Ancient Past
Researchers conducted a study discovering that a coronavirus outbreak occurred about 20,000 years ago, leaving traces in modern DNA.
New Whale Species Named After A “God of Death” Hunted on Land and Underwater, New Fossil Discovery Indicates
Scientists discovered a fossil in Egypt's Western Desert of a whale that had four legs and could live both underwater and on land.
Ancient Tablet Displays Pythagorean Theorem 1,000 Years Before Pythagoras was Even Born
A 4000-year-old tablet displays a form of geometry from Babylon, thousands of years before the math was thought to have been discovered.
Animal Life On Earth Emerged Far Earlier Than Previously Believed
A new study has revealed the existence of sponges as early as 890 million years ago, making them the oldest known animal life on Earth.