An international team analyzed ancient DNA from 230 individuals in Georgia and Armenia, revealing a largely stable local gene pool from the Bronze Age to 500 CE, with some migration from Anatolia and the Eurasian steppe. The study also found that cranial deformation, initially introduced by migrants, became a local tradition.
This article discusses efforts to reconstruct Shakespeare's original pronunciation, focusing on experiments at the Globe Theatre and the linguistic evidence used to inform these reconstructions. It details three key types of evidence: contemporary observations, spellings, and rhymes/puns that only work in the original pronunciation.
Researchers found living quarters of an ancient civilization, which disproved earlier theories that the site served solely as a ceremonial pilgrimage destination.
The article discusses recent excavations at Göbekli Tepe, an ancient Neolithic archaeological site in southeastern Anatolia. Key findings include the discovery of living quarters, which challenges the earlier theory that the site was solely a ceremonial pilgrimage destination. Göbekli Tepe, dating back to around 10,000 BCE, is known for its monumental T-shaped pillars and is considered one of the earliest known temples. The site's complexity and interconnectedness of societies suggest that religion and spirituality played significant roles in early human development. Recent discoveries at nearby sites like Karahantepe have revealed similar monumental structures, further enriching our understanding of prehistory.
A new study suggests that the wheel may have been invented by copper miners in the Carpathian Mountains around 3900 B.C., using techniques from structural mechanics to trace the evolution of the wheel and axle.
The Sumerian language was the first to have a written form around 3500 BCE, using a system called cuneiform. This script evolved over time, and was later used by other languages like Akkadian, Babylonian, and Assyrian.
ca. 1900–1600 BCE
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 171