Homo sapiens

Archaeologists found Homer's Iliad inside a 1,600-year-old Egyptian mummy

Egypt discovery Homo sapiens

A 1,600-year-old mummy discovered in Egypt has revealed something archaeologists had never seen before: a fragment of Homer’s Iliad used during embalming. The papyrus was identified as part of the famous "Catalogue of Ships," one of the best-known sections of the ancient epic. Researchers say it is the first archaeological evidence of a Greek literary text being intentionally incorporated into the mummification process, adding a fascinating new chapter to the history of both literature and ancie

15/07/2026 sciencedaily-fossils

Why have humans collected crystals for 780,000 years? Chimpanzees may hold the answer

Homo sapiens mammals

Chimpanzees showed a remarkable attraction to crystals, choosing them over ordinary stones and studying them with intense curiosity. The results suggest that the same unusual features may have fascinated early humans long before crystals had any practical use.

15/07/2026 sciencedaily-fossils

Scientists discover what kept ancient campfires burning for generations

feeding Israel fish Homo sapiens

Nearly 800,000 years ago, early humans living beside a lake in what is now Israel may have chosen the location for one surprisingly practical reason: firewood. Researchers discovered that these ancient people regularly gathered driftwood washed up along the shoreline, giving them an easy, reliable fuel source for cooking fish, processing large animals, making tools, and organizing daily life around hearths.

15/07/2026 sciencedaily-paleo

Ancient DNA reveals the mysterious collapse of Europe's megalith builders

DNA migration genetics Homo sapiens human origin

DNA from a 5,000-year-old French megalithic tomb reveals that the people buried before and after a population collapse were genetically unrelated, pointing to a major migration after a devastating crisis. The shift coincided with new social traditions and the disappearance of the communities that built Europe's giant stone monuments.

08/07/2026 sciencedaily-fossils

The Neanderthal “love story” isn’t what the DNA actually shows

DNA migration reproduction evolution genetics Homo sapiens

Claims that Neanderthal men "preferred" Homo sapiens women may make for catchy headlines, but the underlying research does not actually show prehistoric romance. The genetic evidence only points to an uneven pattern of DNA inheritance, which could have been shaped by biology, migration, or social organization. Archaeological evidence suggests Neanderthal groups may have followed traditions where women moved between communities, opening the door to far more complicated explanations than simple at

07/07/2026 sciencedaily-fossils