Neanderthals were capable of human speech
Detailed and long-running research shows that our closest ancestor talked and heard.
The closest ancestor to modern humans – Neanderthals – were capable of understanding and producing human speech, acco...
Anthropology
-
-
Oldest Australian rock painting
A kangaroo painting is now Australia’s oldest known rock art.
An image of a kangaroo has been identified as Australia’s oldest known rock painting, dated to over 17,000 years old....
-
Brain buster
Genes help explain differences between Neanderthal and human brains.
Researchers have identified a mutated gene that appears to be responsible for a large disparity between Neanderthal a...
-
Neanderthals: Gut stubborn
Some useful human microorganisms have long, long histories.
Humans and Neanderthals could have more in common than just DNA – we also might share the microorganisms in our gut. ...
-
Rainfall in a nutshell
Scraps of meals yield millennia-long history of Top End climate.
Across the world, it’s what humans and other organisms have left behind that’s advanced our understanding of the Eart...
-
Anthropocene: Lessons from the past
Could Indigenous wisdom help us create a “good Anthropocene”?
The Anthropocene marks relentless and increasingly grave environmental degradation as the Earth faces tipping points ...
-
Venus figurines: Shaped for the times
Researchers offer new theory on Venus figurines.
The enigmatic Venus figurines, one of world's earliest known examples of art, are the subject of much conjecture....
-
History
Franz Boas takes a new look at race
Maverick anthropologist changed our view of humanity.
Franz Uri Boas has been described as “the father of the field” of anthropology (The Atlantic), the professor who “pio...
-
Clues to cultivation in the Torres Strait
Study sheds new light on old horticultural practices.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people had a history of skilfully resourcing food and managing the land long be...
-
Ancient artisans made a projectile point
Independent invention across continents revealed.
Neolithic toolmakers in southern Arabia created intricate stone weapons designed both to be useful and to showcase th...
-
More pieces to the Polynesian puzzle
Studies support influence of Native Americans.
Native Americans had a genetic and cultural influence on Polynesia more than five centuries before the arrival of Eur...
-
How African ancestors moved and mingled
DNA reveals population dynamics of foragers, herders and farmers.
Revelations about Africa’s past just got more colourful as ancient DNA analysis shows historical population interacti...