Archaeology

New data show that maize was a staple in Peru as early as 5,000 years ago and probably helped fuel the cultural leap during what's called the late Archaic period. Sophie Bushwick reports

A grain-by-grain analysis of sand from Mauritian beaches reveals rock from an ancient landmass

Archaeologists are drawing comparisons between the fall of the Akkadian empire more than 4,000 years ago and the crises in contemporary Syria

Physical anthropologist Alan Mann talked about third molars as a case study in human evolution at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in Boston

Contrary to findings from mass Stone Age graves, women were equally as likely to be victims of deadly blows as men

Built during the height of the Kush Kingdom, a group of 2000-year-old pyramids resemble French formal gardens

DNA analysis confirms that bones excavated from underneath a parking lot in Leicester, England, are the remains of the vilified English king, Richard III

New fossil discoveries complicate the already devilish task of identifying our most ancient progenitors

An analysis of pills recovered from a shipwreck off the coast of Italy reveals them to contain zinc compounds that were probably used as eye medication. Sophie Bushwick reports

An almost 5,000-year-old collection of precious stones may be the earliest evidence of shamanic rituals in Central America

Ancient Pompeii’s political elite vied for advertising space on the “private walls” of wealthy citizens