human-history16.555 min read
Earliest Known Face-Wound Hints at Violence Among Early Humans
17 hours ago•Source: Gizmodo
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16.09 min•2 days ago
Colchester Pit Hints Romans Were Early Sea-Monster Fossil Collectors
In Colchester, UK, a 2nd‑century CE fossil pit yielded an ichthyosaur spinal bone that a Romans-era collector tucked among pottery and spoons; paleontologists say this is the oldest known example of deliberate ichthyosaur fossil collecting, suggesting Romans may have curated fossils perhaps influenced by Greek myths about sea monsters, with a roughly 1,800‑year gap before similar discoveries.
16.86 min•7 days ago
Hobbit-Sized Hominins Likely Scavengers Amid Komodo Dragons on Flores
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Diverse, Connected Neanderthals Challenge the Extinction Narrative
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Undersea Helmet Hoard Reveals Medieval Origins, Not Roman
Gizmodo•1 month ago
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Britain's Oldest Cave Art Vindicated, Dating to 17,000 Years Ago
New dating and image-analysis of Bacon Hole cave in south Wales confirm that its red markings are ancient abstract art dating to about 17,000 years ago, making them the oldest rock art in the British Isles; previously dismissed as mineral staining and graffiti, uranium–thorium dating and enhanced imagery reveal human-like symbolic lines and dots, likely created by Upper Paleolithic hunter–gatherers, with surrounding mineral deposits supporting the minimum age.
Walking Upright and Brain Growth May Have Shaped Humans' Right-Hand Bias
Oxford researchers analyzed data from 2,025 individuals across 41 primate species and found that the near-universal human right-handedness likely stems from two defining human traits—upright walking and larger brains—with limb-length balance helping predict hand preference; other factors like tool use, diet, or habitat did not fully explain the pattern.
Romans Used On-The-Go Coatings to Keep Ships Afloat, Study Finds
A Frontiers in Materials study of the Ilovik-Paržine 1 shipwreck shows Romans used zopissa—a pine tar and beeswax waterproof coating—applied in multiple phases, suggesting ships were regularly refurbished during voyages. Palynology tied the coating’s materials to diverse Adriatic environments, revealing a web of long-distance naval knowledge transfer around the Mediterranean.
Maastricht Tile Find May Reveal Real-Life Fourth Musketeer
Repair workers uncover skeletal remains beneath an altar in Maastricht’s church during tile repairs; early indicators—a French coin and a chest wound—point to Charles de Batz de Castelmore, Count d’Artagnan, the real-life inspiration for The Three Musketeers, with DNA testing underway to confirm the identity.