Topic: archaeological research
-
Easter Island Statues Built by Small Clans, 3D Model Reveals
New 3D modeling of the Rano Raraku quarry suggests the moai were carved by decentralized family groups, not a single unified society, around 800 years ago. This digital reconstruction provides a comprehensive, shareable record of the site, allowing detailed virtual study of carving styles and ina...
Read More » -
How Easter Island's Giant Statues Walked to Their Platforms
The moai statues of Easter Island, some weighing up to 92 tons, were carved around 800 years ago, and a theory by archaeologist Carl Lipo suggests they were transported upright by "walking" them with ropes. Recent studies, including 3D modeling and field tests, support this walking hypothesis, wi...
Read More » -
Dogs Were Diverse in Size and Shape Long Before Modern Breeds
Ancient dogs exhibited significant physical diversity in size and shape long before modern breeding practices, with Ice Age dogs already showing about half the variation of contemporary breeds. A study comparing 643 canine and wolf skulls from the past 50,000 years revealed that Mesolithic and Ne...
Read More » -
South America's Ancient Hunters Targeted Giant Prey
Ancient human hunters in South America showed a strong preference for hunting giant Ice Age creatures like sloths, armadillos, and elephant-like mammals, which may have driven them to extinction. Analysis of bones from 20 archaeological sites revealed that over 80% of butchered remains at most lo...
Read More »