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When DNA Can’t: Ancient Proteins Reveal the Sex of 2-Million Year Old Paranthropus Specimen
Study Conducts Paleoproteomic Investigation of Paranthropus Robustus Specimens 1,8 million years old Paranthropus robustus (SK-48 Swartkrans). Housed at the Ditsong Museum. Credit: Wikimedia Commons Early hominin species comprise a rich array of overlapping lineages that existed across the African Pliocene. Yet our knowledge of the diversity within any given lineage is limited. This is in part due to current ancient DNA technologies being unable to sequence genetic material
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Jan 287 min read
The World’s First Fossilized Buttock-Drag Mark was Made by a Dassie
New Study Identifies First Ever Dassie Trace Fossils Including the First Ever Buttock-Drag Mark Fossil Rock Hyraxes, aka Dassies. Credit: Baltana When I was nine years old, my family and I decided to go on a short vacation in a safari game park. I decided to go climbing on the large boulders that made up the foot of the cliff next to which we stayed. As I did so, I came upon a cave, or at least two or three large boulders that had created a sort of rock tent. Thrilled, I deci
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Oct 22, 20257 min read
How to Kill Your Eland: A 7000 Year Old Guide
Chemical analysis of preserved residues reveals oldest multicomponent poison used on arrows Micro-CT scan of the femur quiver with three...
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Sep 17, 20258 min read
From Idea to Award: Navigating the Funding Application Process
At some point during your degree, you may need to apply for funding to help cover the costs of university fees, lab work, publication,...
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Jul 9, 20257 min read
A Mobility Research Journey through the San Rock Art of the uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park
Background In March 2024, I started with a groundbreaking research project titled: Rock Art Presentation: A comparative analysis between...
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Jun 11, 20256 min read
12th Century Swahili Bronze Coins Reveal Extensive African Trade Networks
Coin found at Ibo, site C–400 site. Credit: Montero-Ruiz et al. 2025 My dad has a ‘piggy’ bank in his guest room. The modest glass jar is...
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May 7, 202510 min read
Researchers Uncover Rare Aardvark Trace Fossils Along South Africa's Coast
New Study Describes Discovery and Identification of Rare Aardvark Trace Fossils Image of an aardvark. Credit: SecretAfrica Last year, I...
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Apr 2, 202510 min read
First Archaeological Evidence of Leopard Seal Remains in South African Coastal Deposits
Research Reveals First Archaeological Evidence of Antarctic Apex Predator in South African Pleistocene Deposits Worn down leopard seal...
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Mar 6, 20257 min read
The Importance of Ostrich Eggshell Beads In Precolonial African Exchange Networks
New research shows hunter-gatherers maintained extensive exchange networks using ostrich eggshell beads When I was younger, we had...
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Dec 7, 20248 min read
Ancient DNA at Oakhurst Rock Shelter Reveals 9 000 Years of Continuity
Written by Nina da Silva Archaeological research at the Oakhurst rock shelter, the site nestled in a sandstone cliff along South Africa’s...
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Nov 28, 20242 min read
Ancient Zoroastrian Community May Have built Madagascan Ruins 1000 Years Ago
New research suggests that the Madagascan site of Teniky may have been built by a community of Zoroastrian and Iranian origins. Figure 1....
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Sep 27, 202412 min read
Ancient Stingray Sand Sculpture Found Along South Africa’s Coast
The discovery of a 130,000-year-old sand sculpture resembling a stingray sheds light on the artistic prowess of our ancestors
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May 16, 20244 min read
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