Anthropology

Researchers from the National Museum and the University of Copenhagen have deciphered over 4,000-year-old clay tablets, uncovering magic spells, royal records, and everyday bureaucracy from ancient Middle Eastern civilizations. The texts include rare anti-witchcraft rituals protecting Assyrian kings and a regnal list hinting at the historical existence of King Gilgamesh. One tablet even records a simple receipt for beer.

3. maj 2026 Rapporteret af AI

New research shows that malaria pushed early human populations away from high-risk areas in sub-Saharan Africa over the past 74,000 years. This fragmentation influenced genetic diversity and population structures. The study highlights disease as a key evolutionary force alongside climate.

Archaeological analysis of mass graves in northeastern France has uncovered evidence of ritualized violence following Europe's earliest wars. Researchers used isotope analysis to show that victims were outsiders subjected to deliberate, symbolic acts of brutality. The findings suggest prehistoric conflicts involved structured displays of power rather than random chaos.

7. februar 2026 Rapporteret af AI

Fossils unearthed in a Moroccan cave offer a precise glimpse into early human evolution, dated to about 773,000 years ago using Earth's magnetic field reversal as a timestamp. The remains, blending primitive and advanced traits, suggest an African population close to the shared ancestor of modern humans, Neanderthals, and Denisovans. This discovery highlights northwest Africa's key role in human origins.