Paleoanthropology
View article: Aliens Do Not Exist — But Atlanteans Might Have
Aliens Do Not Exist — But Atlanteans Might Have Open
This speculative scientific essay examines two complementary questions: why modern astrophysical evidence makes extraterrestrial civilizations extraordinarily unlikely, and whether certain anomalies in ancient texts suggest the possibility…
View article: Aliens Do Not Exist — But Atlanteans Might Have
Aliens Do Not Exist — But Atlanteans Might Have Open
This speculative scientific essay examines two complementary questions: why modern astrophysical evidence makes extraterrestrial civilizations extraordinarily unlikely, and whether certain anomalies in ancient texts suggest the possibility…
View article: A bioavailable 87Sr/86Sr isoscape of Mongolia: Implications for the reconstruction of past human and animal mobility
A bioavailable 87Sr/86Sr isoscape of Mongolia: Implications for the reconstruction of past human and animal mobility Open
Understanding past human and animal mobility is essential for reconstructing the social and cultural dynamics of ancient societies. Strontium isotope analysis ( 87 Sr/ 86 Sr) offers a powerful tool to investigate provenance and movement. T…
View article: Reconstructing a medieval recipe for red lead (Pb₃O₄): an archaeometry approach
Reconstructing a medieval recipe for red lead (Pb₃O₄): an archaeometry approach Open
Red lead (Pb₃O₄), or minium, was one of the most common pigments in medieval manuscript illumination. However, the exact procedures used for its preparation and the thermal pathways underlying its formation remain insufficiently documented…
View article: Testing the taxonomy of Dmanisi hominin fossils through dental crown area
Testing the taxonomy of Dmanisi hominin fossils through dental crown area Open
The Dmanisi paleoanthropological assemblage from Georgia is among the most debated collections of hominin fossils due to its early age and extreme morphological diversity relative to other Homo assemblages. This variability has been interp…
View article: Reconstructing a medieval recipe for red lead (Pb₃O₄): an archaeometry approach
Reconstructing a medieval recipe for red lead (Pb₃O₄): an archaeometry approach Open
Red lead (Pb₃O₄), or minium, was one of the most common pigments in medieval manuscript illumination. However, the exact procedures used for its preparation and the thermal pathways underlying its formation remain insufficiently documented…
View article: Mosaic Hominins: Rethinking Linearity and Adaptation in the Pleistocene
Mosaic Hominins: Rethinking Linearity and Adaptation in the Pleistocene Open
The Pleistocene epoch witnessed significant hominin evolution, traditionally viewed through a linear progression from primitive to advanced forms. This perspective often assumes that adaptations arose in a sequential manner, with each spec…
View article: Rethinking Hominin Origins: New Morphometric Analyses of Sahelanthropus tchadensis and Their Implications for Bipedalism's Emergence
Rethinking Hominin Origins: New Morphometric Analyses of Sahelanthropus tchadensis and Their Implications for Bipedalism's Emergence Open
This paper presents a comprehensive re-evaluation of the fossil hominin Sahelanthropus tchadensis, focusing on new morphometric analyses of the cranium, mandible, and postcranial elements, particularly the femur. Sahelanthropus, dated to a…
View article: Challenging the Cradle: Reassessing the Weak Garden of Eden Through Ancient Genomics and Environmental Proxies
Challenging the Cradle: Reassessing the Weak Garden of Eden Through Ancient Genomics and Environmental Proxies Open
This paper critically examines the "Weak Garden of Eden" hypothesis, which posits a recent, severe bottleneck in human population size, using evidence from ancient genomics and environmental proxies. We analyze genomic data from diverse an…
View article: Re-Evaluating the Recent African Origin Model: Genomic Admixture and the Complex Tapestry of Modern Human Emergence
Re-Evaluating the Recent African Origin Model: Genomic Admixture and the Complex Tapestry of Modern Human Emergence Open
The recent African origin (RAO) model has long been the dominant paradigm in human evolution, positing that modern humans (Homo sapiens) evolved in Africa and subsequently dispersed, replacing archaic hominins in other parts of the world. …
View article: The Ancestral Mosaic: How Archaic Introgression Deconstructs the Garden of Eden and Redefines Human Origins
The Ancestral Mosaic: How Archaic Introgression Deconstructs the Garden of Eden and Redefines Human Origins Open
The study of human origins has been revolutionized by the advent of paleogenomics, which has enabled the sequencing of ancient DNA from extinct hominins. For decades, the dominant narrative was the Recent African Origin model, suggesting t…
View article: From Core to Corpse: Levallois Technology, Mortuary Behavior, and the Depth of Neanderthal Cognition
From Core to Corpse: Levallois Technology, Mortuary Behavior, and the Depth of Neanderthal Cognition Open
This paper investigates the cognitive capabilities of Neanderthals by examining two distinct yet interconnected archaeological markers: Levallois lithic technology and mortuary behavior. Levallois technology, characterized by its systemati…
View article: Rethinking Hominin Origins: New Morphometric Analyses of Sahelanthropus tchadensis and Their Implications for Bipedalism's Emergence
Rethinking Hominin Origins: New Morphometric Analyses of Sahelanthropus tchadensis and Their Implications for Bipedalism's Emergence Open
This paper presents a comprehensive re-evaluation of the fossil hominin Sahelanthropus tchadensis, focusing on new morphometric analyses of the cranium, mandible, and postcranial elements, particularly the femur. Sahelanthropus, dated to a…
View article: Challenging the Cradle: Reassessing the Weak Garden of Eden Through Ancient Genomics and Environmental Proxies
Challenging the Cradle: Reassessing the Weak Garden of Eden Through Ancient Genomics and Environmental Proxies Open
This paper critically examines the "Weak Garden of Eden" hypothesis, which posits a recent, severe bottleneck in human population size, using evidence from ancient genomics and environmental proxies. We analyze genomic data from diverse an…
View article: The Ancestral Mosaic: How Archaic Introgression Deconstructs the Garden of Eden and Redefines Human Origins
The Ancestral Mosaic: How Archaic Introgression Deconstructs the Garden of Eden and Redefines Human Origins Open
The study of human origins has been revolutionized by the advent of paleogenomics, which has enabled the sequencing of ancient DNA from extinct hominins. For decades, the dominant narrative was the Recent African Origin model, suggesting t…
View article: The Anthropocene's Deep Roots: Reconstructing Hominin Niche Construction and Eco-Evolutionary Dynamics
The Anthropocene's Deep Roots: Reconstructing Hominin Niche Construction and Eco-Evolutionary Dynamics Open
The Anthropocene, a proposed geological epoch defined by significant human impact on Earth's geology and ecosystems, is typically viewed as a recent phenomenon, often commencing with the Industrial Revolution or the Great Acceleration. Thi…
View article: Re-Evaluating Upper Paleolithic Technological Organization: A Spatio-Temporal Analysis of Raw Material Procurement, Tool Production, and Site Function
Re-Evaluating Upper Paleolithic Technological Organization: A Spatio-Temporal Analysis of Raw Material Procurement, Tool Production, and Site Function Open
This paper presents a re-evaluation of Upper Paleolithic technological organization through a detailed spatio-temporal analysis. Our focus is on the intricate relationships between raw material procurement strategies, tool production techn…
View article: Australopithecus: A Pan-African Odyssey of Diversity, Adaptation, and the Homo Threshold
Australopithecus: A Pan-African Odyssey of Diversity, Adaptation, and the Homo Threshold Open
The genus Australopithecus represents a pivotal stage in human evolution, bridging the gap between our ape-like ancestors and the emergence of the genus Homo. Spanning approximately 4.2 to 2 million years ago (Ma), Australopithecus species…
View article: From Trace to Totem: The Co-evolution of the Hominin Brain and the Material Scaffolding of Symbolic Thought
From Trace to Totem: The Co-evolution of the Hominin Brain and the Material Scaffolding of Symbolic Thought Open
This paper explores the intricate and reciprocal relationship between the evolution of the hominin brain and the development of material culture, arguing for a co-evolutionary feedback loop that drove the emergence of symbolic thought. We …
View article: Re-Evaluating Upper Paleolithic Technological Organization: A Spatio-Temporal Analysis of Raw Material Procurement, Tool Production, and Site Function
Re-Evaluating Upper Paleolithic Technological Organization: A Spatio-Temporal Analysis of Raw Material Procurement, Tool Production, and Site Function Open
This paper presents a re-evaluation of Upper Paleolithic technological organization through a detailed spatio-temporal analysis. Our focus is on the intricate relationships between raw material procurement strategies, tool production techn…
View article: Paleolithic Lifeways: Reconstructing Cognitive Complexity Through Multi-Scalar Technological Analyses
Paleolithic Lifeways: Reconstructing Cognitive Complexity Through Multi-Scalar Technological Analyses Open
This paper explores the cognitive capacities of Paleolithic hominins through the lens of their technological achievements. We argue that a multi-scalar approach, encompassing the analysis of individual artifacts, site-level assemblages, an…
View article: Unraveling the Early Homo Kaleidoscope: Divergence, Persistence, and the Mosaic of Human Origins.
Unraveling the Early Homo Kaleidoscope: Divergence, Persistence, and the Mosaic of Human Origins. Open
The early Pliocene and Pleistocene epochs witnessed the emergence and diversification of the genus Homo, a period characterized by profound evolutionary shifts that laid the groundwork for modern humanity. This paper explores the "Early Ho…
View article: From Core to Corpse: Levallois Technology, Mortuary Behavior, and the Depth of Neanderthal Cognition
From Core to Corpse: Levallois Technology, Mortuary Behavior, and the Depth of Neanderthal Cognition Open
This paper investigates the cognitive capabilities of Neanderthals by examining two distinct yet interconnected archaeological markers: Levallois lithic technology and mortuary behavior. Levallois technology, characterized by its systemati…
View article: Sahelanthropus tchadensis: Craniofacial Morphology and the Evolutionary Mosaic of Early Hominins
Sahelanthropus tchadensis: Craniofacial Morphology and the Evolutionary Mosaic of Early Hominins Open
This paper examines the craniofacial morphology of Sahelanthropus tchadensis, a fossil hominin discovered in Chad, dating back approximately 7 million years. The discovery of Sahelanthropus, and particularly its holotype specimen TM 266-01…
View article: Re-Evaluating the Recent African Origin Model: Genomic Admixture and the Complex Tapestry of Modern Human Emergence
Re-Evaluating the Recent African Origin Model: Genomic Admixture and the Complex Tapestry of Modern Human Emergence Open
The recent African origin (RAO) model has long been the dominant paradigm in human evolution, positing that modern humans (Homo sapiens) evolved in Africa and subsequently dispersed, replacing archaic hominins in other parts of the world. …
View article: Paleolithic Lifeways: Reconstructing Cognitive Complexity Through Multi-Scalar Technological Analyses
Paleolithic Lifeways: Reconstructing Cognitive Complexity Through Multi-Scalar Technological Analyses Open
This paper explores the cognitive capacities of Paleolithic hominins through the lens of their technological achievements. We argue that a multi-scalar approach, encompassing the analysis of individual artifacts, site-level assemblages, an…
View article: The Anthropocene's Deep Roots: Reconstructing Hominin Niche Construction and Eco-Evolutionary Dynamics
The Anthropocene's Deep Roots: Reconstructing Hominin Niche Construction and Eco-Evolutionary Dynamics Open
The Anthropocene, a proposed geological epoch defined by significant human impact on Earth's geology and ecosystems, is typically viewed as a recent phenomenon, often commencing with the Industrial Revolution or the Great Acceleration. Thi…
View article: Beyond the Lithic Bias: Rethinking Paleolithic Technology Through Organic Toolkits
Beyond the Lithic Bias: Rethinking Paleolithic Technology Through Organic Toolkits Open
The study of Paleolithic technology has historically been dominated by the analysis of lithic (stone) tools, largely due to their superior preservation in the archaeological record. This pervasive 'lithic bias' has led to an incomplete, an…
View article: Sahelanthropus tchadensis: Craniofacial Morphology and the Evolutionary Mosaic of Early Hominins
Sahelanthropus tchadensis: Craniofacial Morphology and the Evolutionary Mosaic of Early Hominins Open
This paper examines the craniofacial morphology of Sahelanthropus tchadensis, a fossil hominin discovered in Chad, dating back approximately 7 million years. The discovery of Sahelanthropus, and particularly its holotype specimen TM 266-01…
View article: Mosaic Hominins: Rethinking Linearity and Adaptation in the Pleistocene
Mosaic Hominins: Rethinking Linearity and Adaptation in the Pleistocene Open
The Pleistocene epoch witnessed significant hominin evolution, traditionally viewed through a linear progression from primitive to advanced forms. This perspective often assumes that adaptations arose in a sequential manner, with each spec…