New facts in the history of cleanliness: what was before the invention of modern soap
Soap has a fairly simple formula and a long history. But for centuries, water was the primary means of bathing. For example, in the Indus Valley Civilization—a culture that flourished in parts of what is now Pakistan, India, and Afghanistan from 2600 to 1900 BCE—the Great Bath at Mohenjo-Daro is thought to be one of the earliest public steam baths. But steam only lasts so long.
Archaeologists have figured out why ritual tooth extraction was practiced in ancient Taiwan and other parts of Asia
Although dental ablation has been documented among groups around the world, it is most often associated with early Austronesian communities, which included people in Taiwan, Southeast Asia, and Polynesia. The first evidence of the procedure dates back to around 4,800 BCE, during the Neolithic period, and the tradition continued into the early 20th century.
The world’s largest observatory, built before our era, is located in Egypt
In 2024, archaeologists discovered a huge observatory in Egypt, which they say is the largest ever found and dates back to the sixth century BC. Several stones with sundials and inscriptions related to astronomy were found at the site.
New facts and archaeological discoveries about the interaction of ancient people and animals
The cave lion may have been a symbolic animal for ancient people in Baikal-Yenisei Siberia. Fossilized bones of an extinct armored mammal give us the latest clue about when humans arrived in South America. The ancient Egyptians regularly mummified crocodiles in elaborate ceremonies to honor their crocodile god Sobek. Unusual wooden figurines depicting animals.
The oldest calendar and the oldest analog computer were discovered in the summer of 2024
Yet these historical monuments were practically before the eyes of scientists. For example, archaeologists recently reinterpreted the markings on a stone pillar at Göbekli Tepe in southern Turkey, the site of one of the oldest ancient farming communities in the world. The Mesopotamian monument is about 12,000 years old, dating back to the early Holocene, which marks the most recent era on Earth since the glaciers retreated. Divers also discovered the wreckage of an ancient ship off the island of Antikythera in 1900. Several masterpieces of ancient sculpture were brought to the surface. Unexpectedly, among the fragments that were initially mistaken for sculptural fragments, they saw gears. The bronze parts were corroded and covered in marine sediment.
Amazing 55,000-Year-Old Finds Discovered in West Papua
In humanity’s distant past, highly skilled seafarers made daring voyages from Asia to the Pacific islands. It was a global migration that shaped the spread of our species, Homo sapiens, across the planet. These seafarers became the ancestors of the people who live in this region today, from West Papua to Aotearoa (New Zealand). However, archaeologists are still unclear about the exact timing, location and nature of these seaborne migrations. The study found that people lived near West Papua at least 55,000 years ago.
Researchers at excavation site in Spain find new evidence of Neolithic revolution
Humans began to transition from small nomadic bands to early agricultural civilizations during the Neolithic period. According to National Geographic, historians have several theories about why the Neolithic Revolution, also known as the Agricultural Revolution, began: overpopulation, reliance on certain plants, and even the creation of a more cohesive, productive society. The Neolithic fundamentally changed the way humans interacted with the land, animals, and each other, and the organizational practices developed during this time can be traced to the present day, making this period responsible for one of the most important revolutions in human history.
The modern Kursk region was covered with elevated sand dunes 21-18 thousand years ago
The life of people of the Stone Age was inextricably linked with the natural environment, so scientists studying their settlements try to understand not only what ancient dwellings and their inhabitants looked like, but also what kind of landscape surrounded people, what the climate was like, what plants and animals existed around, the scientists said.
Moon standstill ends early 2025, experts explore new theory on Moon’s influence on Stonehenge design
Experts at English Heritage are investigating a new theory about how the Moon may have influenced the design of Stonehenge. A major lunar standstill occurs about every 19 years, with the next one due in 2024. This has prompted experts in England to investigate whether the phenomenon could have something to do with the design of Stonehenge. The stones at Stonehenge are varied in composition and come from a number of potential sources.