A groundbreaking study published by an international team, including faculty from Binghamton University, State University of New York, has documented the first known case of Down syndrome in Neanderthals. This discovery sheds new light on the social behaviors of our ancient relatives, revealing their capacity for altruistic care and support for vulnerable members within their … Read more
Xylella fastidiosa, the deadly disease-causing bacterium that has already wiped out millions of plants of emblematic Mediterranean crops, like grapevines, olive-trees and almond-trees, by clogging their ducts and plant tissues, will get a boost from climate change in relevant wine-producing regions where the risk is low at present. Researchers at the Institute of Cross-disciplinary Physics … Read more
The Celtic culture of the pre-Roman Iron Age in Western and Central Europe has left numerous traces to this day, not least in the form of enormous burial mounds and spectacular archaeological artifacts. Despite this rich legacy, much about this civilization remains hidden from us. In a collaboration between the State Office for the Preservation … Read more
A famous Mycenaean suit of armor was not just ceremonial, but suitable for extended combat, according to a study published May 22 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Andreas Flouris of the University of Thessaly, Greece and colleagues. One of the oldest known suits of European armor is a 3,500-year-old suit found near the … Read more
A recent study published in the PNAS shows that western Central Asia has experienced a long-term drying trend over the past 7,800 years. This discovery, based on the analysis of a stalagmite from the Fergana Valley in Kyrgyzstan, adds a critical piece to the understanding of westerly-influenced hydroclimatic patterns in Central Asia. Central Asia is … Read more
The island of Cyprus, although considered a hotspot for biodiversity in the Mediterranean, is more famous for its beautiful sunny coasts than for its insect fauna. Nevertheless, some visitors of its highly populated beaches, with their observations and curiosity, have provided important information for a species never recorded before on the island: a giant water … Read more
Italy is not exactly renowned for dinosaurs. In comparison to its excellent artistic and archaeological heritage, dinosaur fossils are very rare. Not surprisingly, the discovery of the first isolated dinosaurs in the early 1990s generated excitement, but are now considered nothing more than an exception to a general rule. During the reign of dinosaurs, between … Read more
A new study led by palaeontologists at the University of Southampton suggests that bones found on the Isle of Wight belong to two new species of spinosaurid, a group of predatory theropod dinosaurs closely related to the giant Spinosaurus. Their unusual, crocodile-like skulls helped the group expand their diets, allowing them hunt prey on both … Read more
The Taklamakan Desert, situated in the heart of Central Asia, is one of the world’s most inhospitable and mysterious landscapes. Covering an area of approximately 337,000 square kilometers (130,000 square miles), the Taklamakan Desert is known for its extreme aridity, blistering temperatures, and shifting sand dunes. Despite its harsh environment, the Taklamakan Desert has yielded … Read more
Researchers and six eager students from the University of South Florida have unearthed a time capsule from antiquity during a riveting excavation in Malta, a Mediterranean gem steeped in history. Guided by the seasoned expertise of Davide Tanasi, a distinguished professor at USF’s Institute for Digital Exploration (IDEx), the team embarked on the Melite Civitas … Read more
More than forty archaeological sites in Cyprus dating potentially as far back as the Bronze Age that were thought lost to history have been relocated by University of Leicester scientists working for the Ministry of Defence. A small team of archaeologists from University of Leicester Archaeological Services, undertook a ‘walkover survey’—a systematic surveying and recording … Read more
Archaeologists from the Institute of Underwater Archaeology (ZAPA) have recently made a captivating discovery – the submerged remnants of a Roman harbor, lying off the coast of Portorož, Slovenia. Portorož, derived from the Italian “Port of Rose,” reflects the region’s rich historical tapestry. Controlled by the Byzantine Empire and later inhabited by Celtic tribes, Portorož … Read more
For more than a quarter of a century, archaeologists have dedicated their efforts to excavating the historic site of Tell es-Safi in Israel, the ancient city of Gath, renowned in biblical narratives. Recent excavations at the site have unearthed new evidence shedding light on the enigmatic Philistine culture that thrived between 1200-604 BC. A groundbreaking … Read more
Ancient Eastern Arabia unveils a compelling narrative through DNA analysis, shedding light on the intriguing interplay between human populations, agriculture, and disease. The study of four individuals from Tylos-period Bahrain, dating back to 300 BCE to 600 CE, unveils the presence of the G6PD Mediterranean mutation, providing a fascinating link to the onset of agriculture … Read more