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![A side-by-side comparison of a Neanderthal and human skull](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/rw3UGsQidBf7zCoJuaY2QP-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/rw3UGsQidBf7zCoJuaY2QP-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/rw3UGsQidBf7zCoJuaY2QP-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/rw3UGsQidBf7zCoJuaY2QP-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/rw3UGsQidBf7zCoJuaY2QP-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/rw3UGsQidBf7zCoJuaY2QP-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/rw3UGsQidBf7zCoJuaY2QP-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/rw3UGsQidBf7zCoJuaY2QP-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Humans and Neanderthals mated 250,000 years ago, much earlier than thought
By Emily Cooke published
A comparison of the genomes of a Neanderthal who lived 120,000 years ago in Siberia with those from modern humans in sub-Saharan Africa has revealed insight into the migratory and interbreeding history of both species.
![We see sandy-colored rock ruins of old structures in the desert against a blue sky.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/A9ZcvL2M4fe2oqfCVwMBh8-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/A9ZcvL2M4fe2oqfCVwMBh8-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/A9ZcvL2M4fe2oqfCVwMBh8-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/A9ZcvL2M4fe2oqfCVwMBh8-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/A9ZcvL2M4fe2oqfCVwMBh8-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/A9ZcvL2M4fe2oqfCVwMBh8-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/A9ZcvL2M4fe2oqfCVwMBh8-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/A9ZcvL2M4fe2oqfCVwMBh8-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
'World-class aquifer' enabled ancient African kingdom to thrive in the Sahara for hundreds of years
By Tom Metcalfe published
The rise and fall of the Garamantes in what is now Libya is a cautionary tale for regions that rely on ancient groundwater.
![Researchers analyze the skulls' DNA, as well as any written records or inscriptions, for about 1,100 of the stolen skulls.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/fqovSikEXGz9G5uZKnnfjb-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/fqovSikEXGz9G5uZKnnfjb-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/fqovSikEXGz9G5uZKnnfjb-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/fqovSikEXGz9G5uZKnnfjb-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/fqovSikEXGz9G5uZKnnfjb-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/fqovSikEXGz9G5uZKnnfjb-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/fqovSikEXGz9G5uZKnnfjb-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/fqovSikEXGz9G5uZKnnfjb-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Skulls stolen from Africa a century ago have been genetically linked with living people
By Charles Q. Choi published
Skulls housed in a German hospital's collection for a century were stolen from Africa during the colonial period. They have now been genetically matched with living relatives.
![The burial of a 25-30 year old woman from St. Germain-le-Ridiere, France. The skull has red ochre markings, suggesting a ritual burial.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/66YKtjXywv9tXVkMEz6XaM-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/66YKtjXywv9tXVkMEz6XaM-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/66YKtjXywv9tXVkMEz6XaM-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/66YKtjXywv9tXVkMEz6XaM-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/66YKtjXywv9tXVkMEz6XaM-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/66YKtjXywv9tXVkMEz6XaM-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/66YKtjXywv9tXVkMEz6XaM-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/66YKtjXywv9tXVkMEz6XaM-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
When did humans start burying their dead?
By Patrick Pester published
Ancient caves mark the beginning of recorded burial rituals, but there's still so much we don't know about the history of human graves.
![Photos and a digital illustration of the tattoos of the Chi-Rho and Greek letters alpha and omega found on the body at Ghazali.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/WtxqdU6V4f5reh7EZpqWcM-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/WtxqdU6V4f5reh7EZpqWcM-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/WtxqdU6V4f5reh7EZpqWcM-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/WtxqdU6V4f5reh7EZpqWcM-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/WtxqdU6V4f5reh7EZpqWcM-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/WtxqdU6V4f5reh7EZpqWcM-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/WtxqdU6V4f5reh7EZpqWcM-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/WtxqdU6V4f5reh7EZpqWcM-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
'Christ' tattoo discovered on 1,300-year-old body in Sudan
By Owen Jarus published
A tattoo referencing Christ was found on the 1,300-year-old body of an individual in what is now Sudan.
![We see the head of the snake. The entire serpent was placed in a humidity chamber to preserve its colors.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3CEwH2JdRgCD52bmwjwSsj-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3CEwH2JdRgCD52bmwjwSsj-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3CEwH2JdRgCD52bmwjwSsj-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3CEwH2JdRgCD52bmwjwSsj-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3CEwH2JdRgCD52bmwjwSsj-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3CEwH2JdRgCD52bmwjwSsj-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3CEwH2JdRgCD52bmwjwSsj-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3CEwH2JdRgCD52bmwjwSsj-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Earthquake reveals giant Aztec snakehead beneath Mexico City university
By Owen Jarus published
Researchers are conserving a rare snakehead from the Aztecs that still retains its painted colors from hundreds of years ago.
![A partially bent sword with rust](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/YxZ3v7LMrGyJJPQoAGbHx6-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/YxZ3v7LMrGyJJPQoAGbHx6-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/YxZ3v7LMrGyJJPQoAGbHx6-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/YxZ3v7LMrGyJJPQoAGbHx6-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/YxZ3v7LMrGyJJPQoAGbHx6-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/YxZ3v7LMrGyJJPQoAGbHx6-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/YxZ3v7LMrGyJJPQoAGbHx6-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/YxZ3v7LMrGyJJPQoAGbHx6-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Man digs up 1,000-year-old sword from Swedish Crusades in his yard in Finland
By Jennifer Nalewicki published
In addition to finding a Crusader sword, archaeologists in Finland have discovered a cemetery that could potentially contain hundreds of graves.
![Restored ceiling in ancient Egyptian temple. Image displays iconography of the gods Orion, Sothis/Sirius and Anukis, above them the sky goddess Nut swallows the evening sun.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/FUbD84wG96zp6brt93cBJj-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/FUbD84wG96zp6brt93cBJj-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/FUbD84wG96zp6brt93cBJj-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/FUbD84wG96zp6brt93cBJj-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/FUbD84wG96zp6brt93cBJj-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/FUbD84wG96zp6brt93cBJj-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/FUbD84wG96zp6brt93cBJj-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/FUbD84wG96zp6brt93cBJj-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Ancient New Year's scene from Egypt uncovered on roof of 2,200-year-old temple
By Owen Jarus published
Researchers restored an ancient painting of the gods depicted at New Year's during restoration work at the Temple of Esna in Egypt.
![The Neanderthal woman was re-created and built by Dutch artists Andrie and Alfons Kennis. They used replicas of a pelvis and cranial anatomy from Neanderthal females for authenticity. The Neanderthal woman is shown here in comparison to a modern female.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9W84hauqx6Pi9bcN4bEEMg-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9W84hauqx6Pi9bcN4bEEMg-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9W84hauqx6Pi9bcN4bEEMg-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9W84hauqx6Pi9bcN4bEEMg-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9W84hauqx6Pi9bcN4bEEMg-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9W84hauqx6Pi9bcN4bEEMg-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9W84hauqx6Pi9bcN4bEEMg-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9W84hauqx6Pi9bcN4bEEMg-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Scientists finally solve mystery of why Europeans have less Neanderthal DNA than East Asians
By Stephanie Pappas published
Modern Europeans have a smaller proportion of Neanderthal genes in their genomes than East Asians do. New research suggests the reason lies at the feet of migrating early farmers.
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