anthropology

Why is this 4,500 year-old purse covered with a hundred dog teeth?

Ladies, if you’re thinking of accessorizing and bringing back that retro look, you may be interested in a recent archaeological discovery made in Germany: Excavators working to uncover a Stone Age site near Leipzig have found a rather bizarrely ornamented purse – one that’s studded with a hundred dog teeth. And according to the archaeologists,…

io9 George Dvorsky Jun 29

Researchers sequence fragments of the oldest human genome on Earth

An international team of researchers has sequenced fragments of DNA from a pair 7,000-year-old human skeletons. In an intriguing twist, the remains, while recovered from a cave in northeastern Spain, bear little genetic resemblance to people living in the region today. If the remains have been dated accurately, their genetic information predates that of the…

io9 Robbie Gonzalez Jun 29

Did our ancient ancestors really eat tree bark?

Most of us try to get more fiber in our diet — but we’ll never get as much as some of our long-ago ancestors. Australopithecus sediba lived in Africa around two million years ago, and it looks like their diet was different from any other ancient hominin’s. While most other species were happily munching on…

io9 Tim Barribeau Jun 29

Europe’s earliest cave art may be the work of Neandertals, not humans

Were Europe’s first artists Neandertals? An international team of archaeologists says it’s a strong possibility. Improved dating techniques have revealed that the practice of cave painting began at least 40,800 years ago, around the same time that modern humans arrived in Europe. But the paintings — which, at 40,800 years old, are easily the most…

io9 Robbie Gonzalez Jun 14

Over 100 Beautifully Preserved Terracotta Warriors Unearthed in China

Earlier today, Chinese archaeologists announced the discovery of 110 life-sized terracotta warriors, guarding the tomb of Qin Shi Huang, China’s first emperor. Over 8,000 such soldiers — which date back to 200 BC, and collectively comprise the Qin Emperor’s massive “Terracotta Army” — have been discovered at the mausoleum in Xi’an, China since it was…

io9 Robbie Gonzalez Jun 11

Why are American heads getting bigger?

Americans shouldn’t let this go to their heads — but recent forensic research suggests that their heads are getting bigger. National Geographic recently reported the discovery that skulls of white Americans have significantly increased in size since 1825, allowing for a tennis ball’s worth of new brain. But why? Scientists are stumped. To make this…

io9 George Dvorsky Jun 7

Our ancestors may have originated in Asia, not Africa

Researchers working in the swamplands of Myanmar have discovered several fossilized teeth from a new species of primate that lived 37 million years ago. If this turns out to be for real, their findings could rewrite the book on the evolutionary origins of monkeys, apes — and even humans. The discovery was made by an…

io9 Robbie Gonzalez Jun 5

The only evidence left of a mystery tribe is bodies in jars

A long lost Cambodian tribe has left only one trace behind, but it’s a significant one. Human remains have been found in jars. The latest have been found about one hundred and sixty feet up a cliff. The Cardamom Mountains hide an unappetizing secret. Scattered over the hills are bodies, or what remains of them,…

io9 Esther Inglis-Arkell May 19

Were Prehistoric War Dogs Key To Humanity’s Survival?

Tens of thousands of years ago, humans prevailed over a Neanderthals. A new study suggests that man’s best friend might have helped us win the battle. According to anthropologist Pat Shipman, the reason for humanity’s evolutionary success may have have been our kinship with domesticated dogs. The Atlantic reports on research first published in American…

Biology Mario Aguilar May 15

Why does the world’s oldest cave art show a vagina?

By now you’ve probably heard: a team of archaeologists has discovered what appear to be engravings of “vulvar representations” on the walls of a cave in southern France. The researchers claim the carvings are at least as old as etchings discovered in France’s Chauvet Cave, long recognized as home to the most ancient cave art…

io9 Robbie Gonzalez May 15

Scientists recover the world’s oldest human blood cells from Ötzi the Iceman

He was found with an arrow in his shoulder and a stab wound in his hand, but when Ötzi the Iceman was first discovered in 1991, scientists were unable to recover so much as a drop of blood from his otherwise intact body. For 5,300 years, Ötzi’s remains had been preserved by the biting cold…

io9 Robbie Gonzalez May 3

In Bhutan, friendly phalluses painted on houses scare off evil spirits (NSFW)

In the tiny landlocked Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan, the unique aesthetic tradition of painting erect penises on architecture — a tradition that has persisted for over 500 years — is finally receiving attention on a global scale. Yes, from the mountains to the valleys, Bhutan is covered with disembodied doodles. But unfortunately for Bhutanese lovers…

io9 Cyriaque Lamar Apr 30

Why do cultures always name red before they do blue?

The way different languages view colors is a curious topic. Much has been made of Homer’s wine dark seas, and I’ve seen it claimed that Chinese had no word for pink before modern European contact, while the Russians use separate words for dark and light blue. Yet amongst all cultures, the historic and pre-historic record…

io9 Tim Barribeau Apr 28

Your ability to imagine a number line may not be hardwired after all

Imagine a number line in your head. Got it? Now think about this: how did it get there in the first place; is the ability to map a number line in your mind an innate human ability, or is it a concept that must be learned? For years, scientists who study our basic mathematical intuitions…

io9 Robbie Gonzalez Apr 26

Guns really do make you look bigger

In sad, befuddling news, a study has shown that people estimate that a person holding a gun is bigger than someone holding another object. Oh, and knives are womanly. Find out what your choice of weapons says about you. A study conducted by UCLA scientists and funded by the US Air Force Office of Scientific…

io9 Esther Inglis-Arkell Apr 12

Explore a 4000-year-old Peruvian monster from the comfort of your home

Late last month, anthropologist Robert Benfer announced that he and his team of researchers had discovered several enormous, earth-formed animal shapes in Peru, including the orca-shaped mound you see up top. Now, thanks to some clever folks over at Google Earth Blog, you can actually explore two of these mounds for yourself. First, some background.…

io9 Robbie Gonzalez Apr 10

Tough Times Are Written in Your DNA; Good Thing You Can Erase Them

You’ve seen the reports that individuals with a lower economic and social status suffer from poor health more often than folks in higher tax brackets. Now, thanks to a multi-year study of rhesus macaques monkeys, researchers have found genetic changes caused by stressful environments are likely contributing to that poor health. On the bright side,…

Tech News Kristen Philipkoski Apr 9

Ancient hominins definitely used fire at least a million years ago

Fire is one of the most important innovations in humanity’s evolutionary history, but it’s also one of the most mysterious. It leaves almost no trace in the archaeological record, and it’s often impossible to determine when humans began controlling fire. As such, the range of dates for when humans – or our evolutionary ancestors –…

io9 Alasdair Wilkins Apr 2

Our ancestor Lucy shared her world with another, completely different humanoid species

The world’s most famous hominin fossil is Lucy, an Australopithecus afarensis that had a chimp-like brain but walked upright like a human. Now a new discovery reveals that Lucy actually shared her world with another, very different hominin species. Both Lucy and this newly discovered fossil date back between 3.2 and 3.4 million years ago,…

io9 Alasdair Wilkins Mar 28

Researchers uncover 8,000 years of human history hidden in the Middle East

How do you map the expansion of Earth’s earliest civilizations? For years, researchers have tackled this daunting task on a settlement-by-settlement basis, searching for clues in mounds of earth throughout the Middle East. But now, researchers have turned to satellite imagery to uncover a vast network of over 14,000 long-overlooked Mesopotamian settlements, spanning 8,000 years…

io9 Robbie Gonzalez Mar 26

Why is this 4,500 year-old purse covered with a hundred dog teeth?

Researchers sequence fragments of the oldest human genome on Earth

Did our ancient ancestors really eat tree bark?

Europe’s earliest cave art may be the work of Neandertals, not humans

Over 100 Beautifully Preserved Terracotta Warriors Unearthed in China

Why are American heads getting bigger?

Our ancestors may have originated in Asia, not Africa

The only evidence left of a mystery tribe is bodies in jars

Were Prehistoric War Dogs Key To Humanity’s Survival?

Why does the world’s oldest cave art show a vagina?

Scientists recover the world’s oldest human blood cells from Ötzi the Iceman

In Bhutan, friendly phalluses painted on houses scare off evil spirits (NSFW)

Why do cultures always name red before they do blue?

Your ability to imagine a number line may not be hardwired after all

Guns really do make you look bigger

Explore a 4000-year-old Peruvian monster from the comfort of your home

Tough Times Are Written in Your DNA; Good Thing You Can Erase Them

Ancient hominins definitely used fire at least a million years ago

Our ancestor Lucy shared her world with another, completely different humanoid species

Researchers uncover 8,000 years of human history hidden in the Middle East

Two Songs We Really Wish Were the Anime Outros for ‘Steel Ball Run’

AI Training Data Giant Mercor Is Reportedly Looking to Buy the Work You Did at Your Old Job

Utah Is Giving Dr. AI the Power to Renew Drug Prescriptions

Here’s the Perfect Excuse to See ‘Project Hail Mary’ Again

US Airlines Are Hiking Bag Fees Amid Iran War Oil Crisis

This Ridiculously Simple Trick Might Stop Gulls From Nabbing Your Lunch

‘Starfleet Academy’ Season 3 Could Have Done the ‘Voyager’ Sequel Episode of Robert Picardo’s Dreams

Judge Kills Lawsuit Against Infamous Study That Might Have Increased Teen Suicides

AirPods Max 2 vs. Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen): Which ANC Headphones Win?

The Best Gadgets of March 2026

AirPods Max 2 Review: Still Ridiculously Expensive and Ridiculously Nice

DJI Osmo 360 Review: The Best 360 Camera for the DJI-Pilled

Aqara Smart Lock U400 Review: Hands-free Unlocking at Its Best

MSI Prestige 14 Flip AI+ Review: A Solid 2-in-1 Laptop With Some Glaring Flaws

Sonos Play Review: Call It a Comeback

Sonos Era 100 SL Review: The Cheapest Way Into Wired Sonos Sound

Let us help find what you are looking for...