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Archaeology and palaeontology

Archaeology and palaeontology
The latest news, analysis and opinion on Archaeology and palaeontology. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.
A model of a Microraptor (front) is wheeled out for display at the American Museum of Natural History in New York. The crow-sized Microraptor was one of the smallest-known dinosaurs, weighing about 430 grams. Photo: Reuters
Science

Why were there no teeny-tiny dinosaurs like we have with mammals and birds?

New research investigates why there were never any dinosaurs the size of, say, a mouse, and it seems like mammals could be to blame.

Africa

Footprints in Kenya shed light on prehistoric human cousin Paranthropus

China-South Korea relations

South Korea returns looted Qing dynasty lions to China in cultural diplomacy win

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United States

‘Gus’ the T. rex fetches record US$50.1 million at US auction

The skeleton – one of the most complete of its kind in the world – was sold after a 10-minute bidding war between seven potential buyers.

A videographer documents “Gus”, a mounted Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton, in New York on July 1. Photo: AFP
Africa

Switzerland returns 18 historic Benin Bronzes to Nigeria

The repatriation marks the latest victory in Africa’s push to reclaim priceless artefacts looted by British colonial forces.

Greece

Greece unveils Parthenon’s facade whole for first time in 220 years

Restoration of the western gable of the Parthenon on the Acropolis in Athens has been completed.

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Science

Our ancient enemy: scientists discover oldest-known plague outbreak

Ancient DNA from Siberian burials reveals prehistoric outbreaks struck hunter-gatherers long before the Black Death.

Yersinia pestis, the bacteria responsible for the plague. New DNA analysis reveals the pathogen was causing deadly outbreaks 5,500 years ago. Photo: Shutterstock
European travel

What’s under Notre-Dame? History unearthed from 1,700 years ago

Roman artefacts, medieval houses, old latrines – history is being uncovered as the front of Notre-Dame Cathedral gets a revamp.

France

Bag made from ‘T. rex leather’ fails to sell at Paris auction

Bids for the one-of-a-kind piece fall well short of the US$500,000 estimate despite its prehistoric origins.

Science

Scientists find woolly mammoth DNA while digging through squirrel poo

A treasure trove of ancient genetic material was stashed away by the rodents before being ‘frozen in time’ by permafrost.

Squirrels pack their burrows with nuts, seeds, leaves, bones, fur and anything else they can find. Photo illustration: dpa
Trending in China

Recent analysis shows Neanderthals may have been first dentists in recorded history

60,000-year-old dental procedure blurs line between humans and Neanderthals.

A life-size reproduction of a Neanderthal family and their dwelling, set 50,000 years ago, is now on exhibit at the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago, Illinois. These are the first authoritative lifelike representations of early humans. Photo: Getty Images
Trending in China

Chinese scientists suggest harsh environments foster early human creativity

The research unveils a more intricate narrative of innovation, intelligence, and human evolution in East Asia.

Science

Can China team’s Greek dig unveil an untold truth in ancient world history?

A joint archaeological project between Greece’s culture ministry and a Chinese team of researchers is breaking new ground.

Italy

Archaeologists use AI to reconstruct Pompeii victim’s face and final moments

AI-generated image shows a man ducking for cover, with a flaming Mount Vesuvius in the background.

The AI-generated image shows a man ducking ​for cover while holding a large bowl over his head. Image: Pompeii Archaeological Park
Jewellery

King Tut’s 3,200-year-old legacy inspires a new era of Egyptian jewellery

The opening of Giza’s Grand Egyptian Museum is sparking renewed interest in ancient motifs from brands like Azza Fahmy and Bibi van der Velden.

Azza Fahmy The Tutankhamun necklace. Photo: Handout
Women and gender

The palaeontologist making her mark in what was a ‘gentleman’s science’

Art

From Jurassic Park kid to dinosaur expert in what was ‘a gentleman’s science’

Natalia Jagielska, dinosaur researcher, illustrator and scientific consultant, explains how women are under-represented in her field.

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Trending in China

Celestial craftsmanship: secrets of meteorite axe from China Sanxingdui unveiled

Artefact was made of a particular blend of metal that would have been extremely difficult for the ancient people to create on Earth.

Various meteoric iron artefacts have been discovered in China, with the latest finding revealing how the inhabitants of Sanxingdui forged an axelike tool from a meteorite. Photo: SCMP composite/Archaeological Research in Asia/Shutterstock
Trending in China

Unearthing peace: ancient China gravesite reveals significance of broken weapons

The bronze daggers and knives were intentionally damaged during burial as offerings to ensure deceased’s peaceful passage into afterlife.

The Netherlands

Lost remains of French musketeer d’Artagnan may have been found in Dutch church

DNA testing is under way to verify ⁠the skeleton. D’Artagnan, fictionalised in Alexandre ⁠Dumas’ novel The ⁠Three Musketeers, died in 1673.

Trending in China

How climate change led to demise of an advanced Chinese civilisation 4,500 years ago

New research paints a picture of a culture that struggled to navigate a significant increase in rainfall and slowly disappeared from history.

A team of scientists analysed data from a stalagmite in Heshang Cave, located in Hubei province, which, because of its low nutrient levels, has proven to be an invaluable resource for reconstructing ancient climate models. Photo: SCMP composite/Science China Press/Shutterstock
Trending in China

Jar burials: a glimpse into ancient China’s compassion for infant deaths

New study indicates Neolithic cultures in China may have separated graves of perinatal infants; different treatment than older children.

Recent research suggested that ancient jar burials in China were primarily for newborns, stillborns, or miscarriages, as most infants did not survive to be breastfed. Photo: SCMP composite/Baidu/sciencedirect
Science

Why is Andy Lau’s name carved on a 600-year-old brick from the Ming dynasty?

The inscription – identical to the Hong Kong star’s name – reveals ancient quality-control system and early use of simplified characters.

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United States

Triceratops skeleton ‘Trey’ to hit the auction block as dinosaur market soars

The 66-million-year-old fossil, for sale on musician Pharrell Williams’ auction platform Joopiter, is expected to fetch up to US$5.5 million.

Australia

Australian police recover stolen Egyptian artefacts after museum heist

The man is accused of stealing a mummy mask, collar, necklace and wooden cat from a museum in Caboolture, Queensland.

A mummy mask recovered from a theft at the Abbey Museum of Art and Archaeology. Photo: Queensland Police/AFP
Science

How did a prized red gemstone reach the ancient, mysterious Shu kingdom?

The presence of the warm, reddish-orange mineral in the Bronze Age archaeological site of Sanxingdui has long puzzled archaeologists.

videocam
A visitor views the “Ancient Shu Civilisation of the Sanxingdui and Jinsha Sites” exhibition at the National Museum of China in Beijing on January 18. A Chinese team says it has solved some mysteries related to crimson beads found in Sanxingdui. Photo: Xinhua
Indonesia

Indonesia’s 68,000-year-old handprint: the birth of human art?

Found hiding beneath a chicken sketch, the faded outline proves ancient humans were capable of reflecting on their existence, scientists say.

Science

How old is Chinese civilisation? A scholar says it really dates back 8,000 years

Leading scholar’s argument stretches the timeline back beyond the widely accepted figure of 5,000 years.

videocam
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