The Wikipedia entry for Y-chromosome haplogroup T claims: “The distribution of haplogroup T in most parts of Europe is spotty or regionalized”. As it is through much of the rest of the world. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haplogroup_T_(Y-DNA) However from the map at Wiki we can see that Y-hap T is largely distributed along coastlines and up major river... Continue Reading →
Reduced Brain Size of Homo floresiensis Hints at Her Likely Ancestors
See also: Is Homo floresiensis really that strange? - Zinjanthropus@ A Primate of Modern Aspect A new, detailed and freely accessible paper, Reconstructing the Ups and Downs of Primate Brain Evolution: Implications for Adaptive Hypotheses and Homo floresiensis (provisional PDF) has just come online at BMC Biology, in which Stephen H. Montgomery et al discuss... Continue Reading →
Four Stone Hearth #85: Cold Wind Edition at A Very Remote Period Indeed
Julien has posted the current edition of Four Stone Hearth over at his blog, marking the 85th occasion on which this anthropology blog carnival has appeared online. There's a distinct archaeological feel to the opening section, including mention of the Silk Road, something I've been mulling over of late, but I certainly hadn't heard of... Continue Reading →
The Archaeology Channel – “Timeless India” by Zafar Hai
The Archaeology Channel - Timeless India TAC have made available a 25-minute promotional film produced and directed by Zafar Hai on behalf of the Ministry of Tourism in India, and narrated by no less a luminary than Michael York. Featuring many historic locations and exotic sights such as temples, this film is aimed more at... Continue Reading →
Wednesday Round-up at Neuroanthropology – Videogaming/ 100th Edition
As readers here may be aware, recent reports from the world of neuroscience with an anthropological slant are assembled every Wednesday over at Neuroanthropology, and this week's edition includes, amongst many others: Chris Kelty et al., Outlaw Biology? Public Participation in the Age of Big Bio Looks like a fascinating symposium this coming Friday and... Continue Reading →
Pego do Diabo (Loures, Portugal): Tracing the Final Days of Iberian Neanderthals
Such is the frequency these days of research into Neanderthals published by Professor João Zilhão, I'm beginning to wonder whether he hasn't created multiple copies of himself, rather in the manner of a kinder, more constructive Dr. Manhattan, in a bid to leave no cave unexplored, no Neanderthal left behind etc. Anyway, today he appears... Continue Reading →
Spatial Organization of Fisher-hunter-gatherers at Gesher Benot Ya’aqov, Israel, 790 kya
Science/AAAS Updated - please see end of this post. The archaeological site of Gesher Benot Ya'aqov has been in the news again recently, following the publication of a paper in Science, namely Spatial Organization of Hominin Activities at Gesher Benot Ya’aqov, Israel, authored by Nira Alperson-Afil et al, in which they reflect upon the organisational... Continue Reading →
Neanderthal Notes for the Weekend
I recently posted a brief article regarding the latest themed edition of Current Anthropology, but at the time of writing I hadn't noticed another paper in the same issue, namely Sleeping Activity Area within the Site Structure of Archaic Human Groups - Evidence from Abric Romaní Level N Combustion Activity Areas, which begins with this:... Continue Reading →
MESO 2010 – The Eighth International Conference on the Mesolithic in Europe, Santander, Spain
A quick heads-up to anyone planning to be in vicinity of Santander, Cantabria this autumn, where a very interesting conference, MESO 2010, (programme) is due to be held this coming September 13th-17th, plus post-Conference excursions the following weekend, September 18th and 19th, in addition to the field trip slated for Wednesday 15th. I would strongly... Continue Reading →
Current Anthropology – Volume 51, Number 1, Feb 2010 – Intergenerational Wealth Transmission and Inequality in Premodern Societies Edition
The latest edition of Current Anthropology has just been published, and included within is a special section referred to in the headline above - I haven't had time to read it yet, so for now here's a table of contents and a snippet from the introduction by editor Mark Aldenderfer, commenting on the themed papers,... Continue Reading →