Latest articles by Kristina Killgrove
Human sacrifices found in a Bronze Age tomb in Turkey were mostly teenage girls
Archaeologists are unsure why unrelated teenagers were buried in an elaborate Bronze Age tomb but think their age may be a clue.
Why modern humans have smaller faces than Neanderthals and chimpanzees
We have smaller faces than Neanderthals and even chimps. A new study may explain how this came to be.
Tumaco-Tolita gold figurine: A 2,000-year-old statue with a 'fancy nose ornament' from a vanished South American culture
The Tumaco-Tolita people, who lived in an area rich in natural gold, crafted intricate and delicate metal objects until the group disappeared 1,500 years ago.
Terracotta Army quiz: What do you know about the 'warriors' in the 2,200-year-old tomb of China's 1st emperor?
Quiz Local farmers discovered thousands of terracotta warrior statues in Shaanxi, China, in 1974. How much do you know about these unique artifacts?
'Bonobo genius' Kanzi, who could understand English and play Minecraft, dies at 44
The bonobo Kanzi, who learned to make stone tools, play Minecraft and communicate at the level of a 2-year-old human, has died.
Smallest human relative ever found may have been devoured by a leopard 2 million years ago
The left hip and leg bones from a young female Paranthropus robustus discovered in South Africa show she was extremely short — and ended up as a leopard's lunch.
2,200-year-old shackles discovered at ancient Egyptian gold mine
The discovery of two sets of iron ankle shackles at an ancient Egyptian gold mine reveals forced labor.
'Mystery population' of human ancestors gave us 20% of our genes and may have boosted our brain function
A novel genetic model suggests that the ancestors of modern humans came from two distinct populations that split and reconnected during our evolutionary history.
Mechanical Dog: A 'good boy' from ancient Egypt that has a red tongue and 'barks'
This small, carved dog epitomizes ancient Egyptians' love of pets.
Apollo gold ring with 'healing serpent' found in 2,000-year-old tomb in Greece
A monumental tomb found near Corinth has revealed several burials, along with artifacts reflecting its later use as a healing shrine.
'The most shameful form of execution': Han warriors found dismembered in 2,100-year-old mass grave in Mongolia
Genetic analysis of skeletons in a mass grave in Mongolia has revealed they were soldiers in the Han-Xiongnu Wars more than two millennia ago.
Albert Einstein quiz: What do you know about the life of the famous theoretical physicist?
Einstein solved the world in his head. How much do you know about his life and work?
'Pregnant' ancient Egyptian mummy with 'cancer' actually wasn't pregnant and didn't have cancer, new study finds
The mummy of a first-century-B.C. individual found in Egypt was not pregnant and did not have cancer, according to a new CT study.
Jewish ritual bath discovered near Rome is the 'oldest discovery of its kind in the world'
A Jewish ritual bath known as a mikvah discovered in Ostia Antica is more than 1,500 years old.
Human ancestors arrived in Western Europe much earlier than previously thought, fossil face fragments reveal
Fragments of the left side of the skull of a human relative have been discovered in Spain, revealing the face of the oldest human ancestor ever discovered in Western Europe.
Onfim's doodle: A 13th-century kid's self-portrait on horseback, slaying an enemy
More than 800 years ago, a Russian boy named Onfim sketched himself on his schoolwork.
Science at a crossroads: Dispatches from Friday's 'Stand Up for Science' rallies across the US
Our science journalists reported on the Stand Up for Science rallies held in New York City and Raleigh, North Carolina.
28,000-year-old Neanderthal-and-human 'Lapedo child' lived tens of thousands of years after our closest relatives went extinct
Researchers used a novel method of radiocarbon dating to figure out the age of the Lapedo child, who had both Neanderthal and human traits.
29,000-year-old remains of child unearthed in Thailand cave with 'symbols of blood and power'
The skeleton of a Stone Age child discovered in Thailand is rewriting what experts know about the prehistory of the area.
1.5 million-year-old bone tools crafted by human ancestors in Tanzania are oldest of their kind
The discovery of 1.5 million-year-old bone tools upends what we know about tool manufacturing in East Africa.
'Extraordinary' timber circle discovered in Denmark is roughly the same age as Stonehenge
Archaeologists in Denmark have discovered the remains of a large timber circle that may be contemporaneous with England's Woodhenge and Stonehenge.
1,500-year-old skeleton found in chains in Jerusalem was a female 'extreme ascetic'
Archaeologists were surprised that the skeleton of a person wrapped in heavy chains was female.
Yup'ik masks: Carvings depicting distorted spirits' faces dreamed up by shamans in Alaska
These masks, known for their distortion and asymmetry, are one of the oldest kinds of art in southwest Alaska.
Neanderthal 'population bottleneck' around 110,000 years ago may have contributed to their extinction
A study of the inner ear bones of Neanderthals shows a significant loss of diversity in their shape around 110,000 years ago, suggesting a genetic bottleneck that contributed to Neanderthals' decline.
