Hunter-gatherers at Poverty Point may have built its massive earthworks not under the command of chiefs, but as part of a vast, temporary gathering of egalitarian communities seeking spiritual harmony in a volatile world.
A PBS series 'Human' explores the history of humanity and how *Homo sapiens* became the dominant species on Earth, highlighting the existence of multiple human species and the importance of cooperation in our success.
Scientists have digitally reconstructed tattoos on a 2,500-year-old Pazyryk mummy from the Altai Mountains, revealing details about ancient tattooing practices, including multiple artists and advanced techniques. The tattoos appear to have been for personal identity and status, not religious purposes.
Genetic research reveals modern humans and Neanderthals interbred repeatedly over nearly 250,000 years, suggesting Neanderthals were absorbed into modern human populations rather than disappearing completely.
Within the last 200 years, we’ve discovered about two dozen species of hominins in Europe, Africa, and Asia—which you can see laid out in this map.
