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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.
last updated:
9 September, 2024
An archaeology expert catalogues destroyed artefacts - which range from bas-reliefs and sculptures to decorated slabs depicting mythical creatures - at the archaeological site of Nimrud, south of Mosul, Iraq, on January 3, 2025. Photo: AFP
History

Like a giant jigsaw puzzle, Iraq’s historic treasures become whole again

Archaeologists are painstakingly putting together artefacts at Nimrud shattered by Islamic State jihadists, undaunted by the colossal task.

Britain

‘Dinosaur highway’ tracks dating back 166 million years discovered in England

Science

Did a wet climate give rise to China’s first empires over 2,000 years ago?

Science

‘Out of Africa’? Not so, says Chinese scientist challenging evolutionary theory

Evolutionary biologist Huang Shi argues that lack of genetic diversity among East Asians suggests they are real ancestors of modern humans.

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“Multiple lines of tests, including ancient DNA analyses, lend robust support to the ‘out of East Asia’ model,” Huang Shi says in recently published paper. Photo: Xinhua
History

Should museums return antiquities to their countries of origin? Some say no

New fronts have opened up in the war of cultural restitution, raising complex ethical and legal questions as some argue against museums returning foreign artefacts.

United States

New York man finds mastodon jaw while gardening in backyard

Mastodons, which were distant cousins of mammoths and modern-day elephants, went extinct around 13,000 years ago.

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Auctions

Ancient stone tablet engraved with Ten Commandments sells for US$5 million

The high figure was notched despite questions around the slab’s authenticity, with some experts expressing doubts about its origins.

Sotheby’s workers hold what is said to be the oldest known inscribed stone tablet of the Ten Commandments during a press preview in New York on December 9. Photo: AFP
Science

Mysterious terracotta commander offers clues to China’s ancient Qin dynasty army

Rare statue of high-ranking officer is helping archeologists piece together military structure of the first empire in China.

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Hong Kong society

30 more rocks containing dinosaur fossils found on Hong Kong’s Port Island

Remote island will reopen to public on Thursday, but visitors warned against exploring area on their own due to safety concerns.

Chinese culture

Tomb of Chinese emperor Liu He gives up Han dynasty battle secrets

6,000 multi-material armour scales represent a first for Han dynasty discoveries and are also ‘the smallest ever unearthed’ from the era.

Liu He’s tomb near Nanchang, capital of east China’s Jiangxi Province. Photo: Weibo/ 海昏侯
Science

Dinosaurs grew stupid over time – and the same could happen to humans: study

A new Chinese-led study into the evolution of dinosaurs has offered a timely warning to our technology-reliant world.

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A study has found that ceratopsians, a type of herbivorous dinosaur such as this Protoceratops, had reduced intelligence, hearing and sense of smell as they evolved into larger creatures. Photo: Shutterstock
Science

Russian scientists hail discovery of 32,000-year-old sabre-toothed cat cub

A remarkably well-preserved cat cub, tens of thousands of years old, was discovered in Russia’s permafrost.

SCMP Highlights

Recap | Ancient king’s tomb unearthed, a Song dynasty fashion shock and more historical finds

From ancient Chinese kings to cutting-edge AI in archaeology, explore fascinating discoveries that rewrite history in some of our recent stories looking into the past.

Science

Chinese women wore tank tops, transparent clothing 800 years ago: study

Digital reconstruction of treasure trove found in 800-year-old tomb reveals forward-thinking fashion of the day, according to scientists.

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Chinese scientists have created a digital reconstruction of a wealthy woman’s clothing from the Southern Song dynasty. Photo: Wuhan Textile University
Hong Kong society

‘Work priorities’ delayed identifying Hong Kong dinosaur fossils by 11 years

Commissioner for Heritage Ivanhoe Chang reveals fossils were found in geological study and left for over a decade due to ‘work priorities’.

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A rock containing fossils is shown at the Hong Kong Heritage Discovery Centre. The government announced the discovery of the fossils on Port Island on Wednesday. Photo: Dickson Lee
Chinese history

The imperfect value of digital facial reconstructions of our ancient ancestors

Digital facial reconstructions are looking increasingly realistic, but do they add equal scientific value?

Science

Sacred Lion of Venice was made in China, new research suggests

It is the emblem of the Italian city. But now scientists say this ancient statue originated much further east.

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Animals

What did the biggest bug on Earth look like? Scientists recreate its head

Arthropleura fossils tell the story of an ancient, many-legged creature that could grow up to 2.7 metres (nine feet) long.

This illustration provided by researchers depicts a juvenile Arthropleura insect reconstructed using fossils discovered in Montceau-les-Mines, France. Image: Mickaël Lhéritier/Jean Vannier/Alexandra Giupponi via AP
Science

China set to conduct nation’s first expeditions in the ‘land of the dinosaurs’

Leading Chinese scientist hopes project will be the ‘beginning of our international expeditions’ after decades of playing catch-up.

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Chinese history

Chopsticks date back millennia, silver versions used by elites in China and Korea

Recent discovery of 800-year-old chopsticks highlights just how little the technology has changed over thousands of years.

Science

10,000 gold, bronze relics unearthed as China’s Sanxingdui ruins give up secrets

Bronze items buried under hundreds of elephant tusks in attempt to ‘fully conceal’, paper by archaeologists behind the find says.

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A platform adorned with 13 bronze figures is among the dazzling relics recovered from the Sanxingdui pits between 2020 and 2022. Photo: Sichuan Cultural Relics
Science

Chinese scientists find world’s oldest cheese buried with Xinjiang mummies

DNA tests suggest Bronze Age people who lived in far west China 3,500 years ago made kefir cheese, challenging beliefs about ancient diets.

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Chinese scientists say a mysterious substance found smeared on the heads and necks of Tarim Basin mummies is a type of soft cheese made from a fermented dairy drink. Photo: Handout / Li Wenying
Chinese history

These 3 individuals shaped ancient Chinese history during their childhood

Whether they were progeny philosophers or boy emperors, their names are stamped in Chinese history.

Chinese history

Recent study into China oracle bones highlights how AI is changing archaeology

Pattern recognition algorithm could determine if a 3,000-year-old oracle bone was written by someone left-handed or right-handed.

Chinese history

Remarkable tales of resilience among women throughout China’s history

Researchers analysed two examples of resilience among ancient women and found a propensity to survive after traumatic injury.

Archaeological findings in China have revealed fascinating insights into the lives of women from ancient times, highlighting their resilience. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock/Archaeological Research in Asia
Chinese history

5,000-year tradition of healthy tooth removal reveals indigenous culture in Taiwan

A team of researchers painted an in-depth picture of the practice of tooth ablation, which was extremely common among Taiwan’s indigenous population.

Traditional tooth removal, practised by ancient Austronesians in Taiwan, remains a custom to this day. Photo: SCMP composite/Archaeological Research in Asia
Israel

5-year-old accidentally smashes 3,500-year-old jar during museum trip

The jar, dating back to the Bronze Age, was displayed without glass barriers.

Egypt

Egypt recovers 3 artefacts found in the Netherlands, including a mummified head

The items include a mummified head from the Hellenistic period. Two of the items were for sale in an antiques shop, Egyptian officials said.

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