Neanderthal kneeprint identified near ancient stalagmite circles

May 08, 2026

Ti AI ṣe iroyin

A possible kneeprint left by a Neanderthal has been found in clay inside Bruniquel cave in south-west France. The impression dates to around 175,000 years ago and sits close to circular structures built from broken stalagmites.

The structures were first discovered in the 1990s and described in a 2016 study. Sophie Verheyden of the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences said the mark could be a kneeprint but called it a hypothesis that requires further comparison with modern impressions in clay. A thin layer of calcium carbonate covers the print, confirming its ancient origin, and a bear specialist ruled out an animal trace.

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Dinosaur tracks from 132 million years ago discovered near Knysna

Scientists have uncovered more than two dozen dinosaur tracks dating back 132 million years in a small rock outcrop near Knysna, South Africa. These footprints, the youngest known in southern Africa, indicate dinosaurs persisted in the region into the early Cretaceous Period. The discovery challenges previous gaps in the local fossil record following ancient lava flows.

Ancient DNA reveals Neanderthal group in Polish cave

April 22, 2026 Ti AI ṣe iroyin

Researchers have analyzed mitochondrial DNA from eight Neanderthal teeth found in Stajnia Cave in Poland, reconstructing the genetic profile of a small group that lived there around 100,000 years ago. The study, published in Current Biology, marks the first such multi-individual genetic picture from a single site north of the Carpathians. The findings show genetic links to Neanderthals across Europe and the Caucasus.

Europe

Ancient DNA uncovers population replacement near Paris around 3000 BC

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Ancient DNA uncovers complex kin relations in Swedish Stone Age graves

Science

Scientists uncover million-year-old fossils in New Zealand cave

Neanderthal infants grew faster than modern human babies

A new analysis of the best-preserved Neanderthal infant skeleton shows that these ancient babies developed bones and brains at a pace matching modern humans aged 12 to 14 months, despite being only about six months old. The findings, based on the Amud 7 infant from Israel, suggest Neanderthals grew rapidly in early childhood as an adaptation to harsh environments. Researchers observed similar patterns in other young Neanderthal remains.

Ice age humans in China crafted advanced stone tools

May 09, 2026 Ti AI ṣe iroyin

Archaeologists have uncovered evidence that early humans produced sophisticated stone tools in central China during a brutal ice age 146,000 years ago. The findings come from the Lingjing site and challenge previous assumptions about when human creativity emerged.

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