Tag Archive for 'Chalcolithic'

C.D. Spiteri et al discovered widespread evidence of prehistoric milk production in southern Europe. Image credit: Samuel Daniell.

Ancient DNA Study Sheds New Light on History of Indo-European Languages

Feb 5, 2025 by News Staff

Paleoanthropologists from the University of Vienna and Harvard University have analyzed ancient DNA from 435 individuals from Eurasian archaeological sites...

Photographs of Umm Jirsan Cave and its interior sections. Image credit: Stewart et al., doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0299292.

Humans Occupied Lava Tube Cave in Saudi Arabia for 7,000 Years, Archaeologists Find

Apr 17, 2024 by News Staff

New archaeological excavations have revealed repeated phases of human occupation of Umm Jirsan lava tube in the Harrat Khaybar, north-western Saudi Arabia,...

The 6,000-year-old copper fish hook from Ashkelon, Israel. Image credit: Israel Antiquity Authority.

6,000-Year-Old Fish Hook Found in Israel

May 2, 2023 by News Staff

Archaeologists with the Israel Antiquity Authority (IAA) have found an ancient copper fishing hook — possibly for hunting sharks — in the Agamim...

Iberian owl-like plaques and local owl species: (a) engraved slate plaque found in Cerro de la Cabeza, Valencina de la Concepción, Sevilla, Spain; (b) wild little owl (Athene noctua) pictured in an agricultural area in Valencina de la Concepción in 2021; (c) slate plaque from Mértola, Alentejo, Portugal; the orifices on the upper part may have been used to insert actual feathers; (d) long-eared owl (Asio otus) with erected ear tufts, pictured in Valencina de la Concepción in 2021. Image credit: Juan J. Negro.

Iberian Owl-Shaped Plaques Were Toys Made by Copper Age Children: Study

Dec 5, 2022 by News Staff

In the Copper Age, around 5,000 years ago, owl-shaped, engraved plaques were produced massively in the southwestern corner of the Iberian Peninsula. Researchers...

The village of Tel Tsaf, Israel: an overview of Area C with courtyard buildings, comprising rectangular and rounded rooms and rounded silos. Image credit: Y. Garfinkel.

New Evidence Suggests Olive and Fig Trees Were Cultivated as Early as 7,000 Years Ago

Jun 16, 2022 by News Staff

Archeologists excavating at the Chalcolithic site of Tel Tsaf in the Jordan Valley, Israel, have discovered one of the earliest examples of fruit tree...

Excavation area in Cueva de Ardales with evidence from the Middle Paleolithic period. Image credit: Ramos-Muñoz et al. / CC-BY 4.0.

Study: Spain’s Cueva de Ardales Was Used by Ancient Humans for Over 50,000 years

Jun 1, 2022 by Enrico de Lazaro

Cueva de Ardales is a hugely important Paleolithic site in Malaga, Spain, owing to its rich inventory of rock art. According to new research, Neanderthals...

Copper slag from Horvat Beter, Beer Sheva, southern Israel. Image credit: Anat Rasiuk, Israel Antiquities Authority.

Archaeologists Unearth 6,500-Year-Old Copper-Smelting Workshop in Israel

Oct 6, 2020 by News Staff

Archaeologists from Tel Aviv University, the Israel Antiquities Authority and the Geological Survey of Israel have excavated a Chalcolithic-period (5th...

Wadi Faynan, where J.P. Grattan et al found evidence of ancient pollution caused by bead making and/or repeated combustion of copper ores in hot fires. Image credit: University of Waterloo.

World’s Very First Polluted River? Scientists Find Evidence of Ancient Metallurgical Activity in Jordan

Dec 6, 2016 by News Staff

A research team led by Liverpool John Moores University scientists has discovered what could be the world’s very first polluted river, contaminated 7,000...

6,000-year-old plant remains in Yoram Cave; note the excellent dry preservation of reeds, seeds and pellets. Image credit: Martin Mascher et al.

Researchers Sequence Genome of Ancient Barley

Jul 18, 2016 by News Staff

An international team of scientists has obtained and analyzed the genome of five barley grains that date back to the Chalcolithic period, about 6,000 years...

Dr. Lupo next to the remains of a Chalcolithic period building. Image credit: Assaf Peretz / Israel Antiquities Authority.

Archaeologists Uncover Chalcolithic Period Settlement in Jerusalem

Feb 18, 2016 by Enrico de Lazaro

Archaeologists working in Israel have uncovered the remains of a settlement from the Chalcolithic period (fifth millennium BC). Dr. Lupo next to the remains...

The 7,000-year-old metal awl from Tel Tsaf upon discovery. Image credit: Yosef Garfinkel.

7,000-Year-Old Metal Artifact Unearthed at Tel Tsaf, Israel

Aug 23, 2014 by News Staff

A 7,000-year-old copper awl unearthed at the archaeological site of Tel Tsaf, Israel, is the earliest metal artifact found to date in the Middle East,...