Anthropology

Scientists have reconstructed the genome of Treponema pallidum from a 5,500-year-old skeleton in Colombia, marking the oldest known instance of this bacterium linked to syphilis and related diseases. The ancient strain diverged early in the pathogen's evolution, suggesting treponemal infections were diversifying in the Americas millennia before European contact. This discovery extends the genetic history of these diseases by over 3,000 years.

26. januar 2026 Rapporteret af AI

More than 10,000 years ago, indigenous peoples in the southwestern united states transported a wild potato species across long distances, extending its range beyond natural habitats. A new study reveals evidence of this movement through archaeological tools and genetic analysis, suggesting early steps toward domestication. The findings highlight ongoing cultural significance for navajo communities.

A new study suggests that the cultivation of easily taxable cereal grains like wheat and barley was key to the emergence of the first large human societies around 5000 years ago. Researchers analyzed language evolution and anthropological data to show how states formed protection rackets around grain production. This shift also led to writing for tax records and a decline in population health.

24. november 2025 Rapporteret af AI

Archaeologists have proposed a fresh understanding of the massive earthen mounds at Poverty Point in Louisiana, suggesting they were built by egalitarian hunter-gatherers during temporary gatherings for trade and rituals rather than under hierarchical rule. This view emerges from new radiocarbon dating and artifact analysis by a team led by Tristram Kidder at Washington University in St. Louis. The site, a UNESCO World Heritage location, dates back about 3,500 years to a time of environmental instability.