Latest articles by Kristina Killgrove
Obsidian blades with food traces reveal 1st settlers of Rapa Nui had regular contact with South Americans 1,000 years ago
The earliest settlers of Rapa Nui, also known as Easter Island, appear to have had some sort of contact with people from South America as early as 1,000 years ago, a new plant study finds.
Europe's last hunter-gatherers had sophisticated societies that helped them avoid inbreeding
Ancient DNA from some of Europe's last hunter-gatherers reveals that they avoided inbreeding.
1,000 burials and medieval village found in excavation of abbey destroyed in French Revolution
Excavations at the medieval Beaumont Abbey in France have revealed nearly 800 years of history before the French Revolution shut it down.
1,800-year-old Roman tombs in Bulgaria included medallion featuring an emperor and glass bottles for collecting mourners' tears
A farmer in Bulgaria accidentally discovered two graves of a wealthy Roman-era family, but they appear to tell "a sad family story."
Skull of Neolithic 'bog body' from Denmark was smashed by 8 heavy blows in violent murder
A new look at a 5,000-year-old bog body from Denmark suggests that the individual may have been an itinerant flint trader who was sacrificed by hostile locals.
1st known tuberculosis cases in Neanderthals revealed in prehistoric bone analysis
A look at two Neanderthal skeletons reveals that they could get tuberculosis, and it may have contributed to their extinction.
Our mixed-up human family: 8 human relatives that went extinct (and 1 that didn't)
Modern humans are far from the only species in the Homo genus. Here are others that went extinct long ago.
Oldest DNA evidence of syphilis relative discovered in 2,000-year-old skeletons in Brazil
Scientists uncovered the oldest-ever genome of bacteria in the same family as syphilis.
Mysterious skeleton found in Hernán Cortés' palace revealed to be Indigenous woman, not Spanish monk
A new analysis of a skeleton buried under Hernán Cortés' palace in Mexico reveals that it doesn't belong to a monk, as was long thought.
Ancient Roman necropolis holding more than 60 skeletons and luxury goods discovered in central Italy
A newfound necropolis in central Italy that once sat near an exclusive villa along an ancient road holds the remains of 67 people and their treasures, including gold jewelry.
1st-ever ancient case of Turner syndrome, with just 1 X chromosome instead of 2, found in ancient DNA
A new DNA technique has detected evidence in Iron Age skeletons of Turner, Klinefelter and Down syndrome.
2,000-year-old bullet found with Julius Caesar's name on it was likely used in civil war
The bullet's inscriptions hint that Indigenous people in Spain supported the would-be dictator, Julius Caesar, during the Roman civil war.
People buried at 'mega' stone tombs in Spain were defleshed and their bones fractured after death
A tomb in Iberia that dates to 6,000 years ago contained bones that were cracked after death.
When did Homo sapiens first appear?
What's the oldest fossil evidence humans have for our species?
Painted saddle found in Mongolian tomb is oldest of its kind
A fifth century Mongolian saddle is one of the earliest examples of evidence of modern horse riding.
Possible Arctic graveyard may be northernmost Stone Age cemetery — but there are no human remains to prove it
Archaeologists in Finland have identified a 6,500-year-old site as potential cemetery with 200 graves.
Civil War weapons thrown into river by General Sherman's forces recovered in South Carolina
Civil War weapons, including an unexploded ordnance, were found during a cleanup project in a South Carolina river.
4,000-year-old tomb discovered in Norway may contain region's 1st farmers
Archaeologists in Norway have discovered a stone-lined tomb from the late Neolithic that holds the remains of at least five people.
From arsenic to urine, archaeologists find odd artifacts on museum shelves
A pair of archaeologists has spent the last 15 years cataloging toxic and gross artifacts moldering in museum collections.
Rare tumor with teeth discovered in Egyptian burial from 3,000 years ago
An ancient Egyptian woman had an ovarian tumor with teeth and was buried with a possible healing object.
5,000-year-old mass grave of fallen warriors in Spain shows evidence of 'sophisticated' warfare
A new analysis of a mass grave from Neolithic Spain reveals that the site wasn't a burial ground from a massacre, but of fallen warriors.
Depiction of Trojan War hero Ajax found in 1,800-year-old submerged building in Greece
The sunken public building was discovered in the underwater ruins of ancient Greek city.
Europe's 1st permanent residents settled in Crimea 37,000 years ago, DNA reveals
The ancestors of Europeans first settled in Crimea about 37,000 years ago, DNA analysis on two ancient individuals reveals.
