Tag Archives: skeleton

2-Million-Year-Old Skeleton Offers Unprecedented Insights into Homo habilis

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A recently unearthed partial skeleton from the Koobifora Formation in northern Kenya provides paleoanthropologists with the most comprehensive insight into Homo habilis—one of the earliest human ancestors. This specimen highlights the significant physical differences between Homo habilis and later humans like Homo erectus.

Facial reconstruction of Homo habilis. Image credit: Cicero Moraes.

This newly discovered partial skeleton, cataloged as KNM-ER 64061, represents the most complete remains of Homo habilis to date.

Dating back approximately 2 million years, this fossil was found in the Upper Burgi Formation of the Koobi Formation near Illeret, Kenya.

The specimen was discovered alongside KNM-ER 64060, which consists of a nearly complete set of teeth and jaw fragments attributed to Homo habilis.

Geological, taphonomic, and geochemical analyses suggest that the teeth and postcranial bones likely belonged to the same individual.

Researchers refer to these finds as a “possible fourth individual” of Homo habilis, marking a rare combination of diagnostic tooth remains and associated postcranial bones preserved in the early Pleistocene fossil record.

“Currently, there are only three other fragmentary and incomplete skeletons known of this significant species,” stated Professor Fred Grein from Stony Brook University.

The KNM-ER 64061 skeleton includes the humerus, both the radius and ulna, parts of the shoulder girdle, and pelvic and sacral fragments, among other elements.

Although no leg bones were recovered, the pelvic characteristics suggest that the mechanics of the lower limbs are more akin to later members of Homo than to earlier australopiths.

Interestingly, the upper limbs indicate a more primitive adaptation. The forearm is relatively long compared to the upper arm, a pattern identified as high brachial index, suggesting that Homo habilis is closer to early humans than to Homo erectus.

The arm bones exhibit unusually thick cortical bones, a trait reminiscent of australopiths and other early Homo fossils.

Based on the length of the humerus, scientists estimate that this individual stood around 1.6 meters tall.

The estimated weight ranges from 30.7 to 32.7 kg, significantly lighter than other known Homo habilis specimens and smaller in comparison to estimates for Homo erectus.

“The upper limbs of Homo habilis are notably more pronounced, indicating that KNM-ER 64061 possessed longer and stronger arms,” remarked Dr. Ashley Hammond from the American Museum of Natural History, the Miquel Crusafont Catalan Institute of Paleontology, and the Avanta Catalunya de Recerca Institute.

“However, the dimensions and proportions of the lower limbs remain elusive.”

“Further discoveries of lower limb fossils from Homo habilis may reshape our understanding of this important species.”

These findings reinforce the view that Homo habilis displayed a mosaic of ancestral and derived traits.

While skeletal features suggest a locomotion style resembling modern humans, the overall body proportions and smaller size imply that this early species had not yet developed the larger, heavier body types seen in later humans.

Between approximately 2.2 million and 1.8 million years ago, multiple hominid species existed in eastern Africa, including Paranthropus boisei, Homo habilis, Homo rudolfensis, and possibly early Homo erectus.

This new skeleton underscores that Homo habilis occupied a distinct evolutionary niche among these species, both physically and genetically.

“To our knowledge, the Homo habilis partial skeleton exhibits a postcranial anatomy that diverges from other members of our genus, such as Homo rudolfensis, whose characteristics remain largely unidentified,” the authors stated.

Their research paper was published online on January 13, 2026, in Anatomical Records.

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Frederick E. Gline et al. discovered a new partial skeleton of Homo habilis from the Upper Burgi Formation of the Koobi Fora Formation in Illeret, Kenya. Anatomical Records published online on January 13, 2026. doi: 10.1002/ar.70100

Source: www.sci.news

Skeleton of Duke Assassinated in 1272 Revealed to Bear Brutal Scars

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The skull has now been identified as Béla of Macsó

Borbéry Noemi/Tamas Hajdu et al. 2025

Over 700 years ago, a Hungarian duke was brutally murdered in a frontal assault at a monastery. Recent studies of ancient human remains uncovered in Budapest have confirmed their identity as the duke, unveiling shocking insights into his assassination.

“The injuries sustained were far more severe than what would typically be required to kill someone,” remarked Martin Trautmann from the University of Helsinki, Finland.

During a 1915 archaeological excavation at a Dominican monastery on Margaret Island in the mid-Danube River in Budapest, the body of a man was discovered in fragments on the monastery floor. Researchers suspected the remains belonged to 29-year-old Béla of Macsó, grandson of King Béla IV, the monastery’s founder.

Records from 13th-century Austria indicate that Béla was assassinated on the island in November 1272 due to a dispute over the Hungarian throne. The bones exhibited multiple signs of trauma, although earlier scientists lacked the capabilities to confirm their initial theories.

The skeleton appeared to be lost during World War II, as noted by Tamas Hajdu, but was rediscovered at Eötvös Lorand University in Hungary in a wooden box at the Hungarian Museum of Natural History in 2018. This rediscovery has spurred investigations utilizing the latest techniques, including a facial reconstruction conducted last year.

Hajdu reported that the skeleton bore nine wounds on the head and face, along with 17 additional wounds across the rest of the body, all inflicted around the time of death. To understand the nature of the assault, Trautman and his team replicated the same injuries on a model skeleton and examined various scenarios. “We analyzed it like a frame-by-frame motion picture, observing injury after injury,” he explained.

Based on the scars, Trautman concluded that two or three assailants attacked the duke from both the front and sides, and the duke attempted to defend himself by blocking the blows with his arms. “They targeted his flanks, leaving him with little chance to escape.”

Eventually, he fell and sustained a skull fracture but continued to fight with his left leg while lying on his side until a stab to his spine ceased his struggle. The attackers then inflicted multiple strikes to his head and face.

While these injuries could have been lethal, it’s also possible he succumbed to excessive bleeding. “There was significant blood loss,” noted Trautman.

Radiocarbon dating confirmed that the remains dated back to the mid-13th century. Plaque analysis indicated a rich diet, including cooked wheat semolina and baked wheat bread.

DNA analysis revealed he was a fourth-generation descendant of King Béla III of Hungary and an eighth-generation relative of Dmitry Alexandrovich, a 13th-century Russian prince, aligning with historical records of the duke’s lineage.

Further genetic studies indicated he had Eastern Mediterranean ancestry on his mother’s side and Scandinavian heritage via his father, consistent with known information on the duke’s ancestry, suggesting he likely possessed dark skin, curly dark hair, and light brown eyes.

This study illuminates a historically significant event with scant details and limited understanding, according to Tamas Kadar, an independent medieval historian in Budapest. Without eyewitness accounts, the Austrian texts primarily record that the duke “met a grisly end on an island near Buda,” with accounts claiming his limbs were “chopped off” and collected by a sister and aunt.

Recent scientific evidence suggests a passionate motive behind the murder, Kadar emphasizes. Biography of Béla of Macsó. “The mutilation of his body, and possibly further disfigurement post-mortem, illustrates profound animosity and hostility,” Kadar asserts. “The prime goal was his swift and certain death.”

Historic Herculaneum – discover Vesuvius, Pompeii and ancient Naples

Embark on a captivating journey through the ruins of Mount Vesuvius, Pompeii, and Herculaneum, where history and archaeology merge.

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Nanotyrannus: Dinosaur Skeleton Resolves Long-Standing Debate Over ‘Small Tyrannosaurus’ Fossil

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Artist’s interpretation of the pack Nanotyrannus assailing a young tyrannosaurus

Anthony Hutchings

Fossils previously thought to belong to a juvenile tyrannosaurus rex have been identified as a fully mature carnivore of a distinct species, resolving a long-standing debate in paleontology.

This controversy originated from a skull unearthed in the Hell Creek Formation in Montana during the 1940s, which was initially identified as gorgosaurus. It was later proposed to be a juvenile tyrannosaurus. In 1988, other researchers posited that the fossil represented an adult of a smaller related species, which they designated Nanotyrannus lansensis.

Since then, a number of additional fossils classified as Nanotyrannus have been discovered, although many paleontologists contend that they are merely tyrannosaurus juveniles.

Now, researchers have examined a complete skeleton for the first time, providing compelling evidence that Nanotyrannus is indeed a separate species.

The skeleton is among a pair of specimens known as “Dueling Dinosaurs,” found by private fossil hunters in 2006, which includes a triceratops and what was initially believed to be a juvenile T. rex buried approximately 67 million years ago.

It was only in 2020, when the fossil came into the possession of the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, that paleontologists could conduct a thorough analysis of it.

“Upon receiving the specimen, we recognized it was extraordinary,” remarks Lindsey Zanno from the North Carolina Museum of Natural Science. “We had no inkling it would radically alter decades of research concerning the world’s most renowned dinosaur.”

Mr. Zanno collaborated with his colleagues, including James Naples, a postdoctoral researcher at Stony Brook University in New York. She had initially supported the juvenile tyrannosaurus theory but was compelled to reevaluate her stance based on the findings.

“Nanotyrannus displays unique nerve and sinus patterns, a greater number of teeth, larger hands, and shorter tails. These traits remain consistent as the species develops from juvenile to adult,” she notes.

Lindsay Zanno with the proposed Nanotyrannuslansensis skeleton

North Carolina State University

Zanno and Napoli’s examination of the dinosaur’s limb bones confirmed that it was a fully mature specimen, approximately 20 years old, weighing around 700 kilograms and measuring about 5.5 meters in length. “This is roughly one-tenth the weight of an adult human and half the length of a tyrannosaurus,” Zanno explains.

Additionally, Zanno and Napoli reanalyzed 200 tyrannosaur fossils and concluded that another nearly complete skeleton, known as Jane from the Hell Creek Formation, is misclassified as a tyrannosaurid fossil. They propose that Jane is actually a new species within this genus, designated Nanotyrannus letaeus.

“Although we possess only one skeleton of N. Retheus, its anatomy suggests it was part of a larger species,” remarks Zanno. “The configuration of the palatal sinuses and the shape of the bone behind the eye are distinctive.”

Proposed Nanotyrannus lansensis skull features more teeth than the tyrannosaurus skull.

Matt Zeher/North Carolina Museum of Natural Science

Scott Parsons, a researcher at the South Carolina State Museum, asserts that this latest study clarifies the debate surrounding Nanotyrannus being its own genus and species.

“In my opinion, Nanotyrannus was among the most formidable dinosaur predators, and being pursued by one would be quite a terrifying experience,” Parsons remarks, noting its long legs and fearsome thumb claws.

“In essence, we can compare Nanotyrannus and tyrannosaurus to modern-day cheetahs and lions. While they shared a similar overall anatomy, they had distinct hunting strategies.”

Thomas Carr from Carthage College in Wisconsin has expressed that the new findings are “quite definitive” that the dueling dinosaur specimen represents an almost adult species, one that differs from tyrannosaurus.

Additionally, Holly Ballard from Oklahoma State University, who led the 2020 research, stated that there is “no contention” regarding the team’s conclusion that the fossil belonged to an individual nearing adult size.

However, neither Ballard nor Carr are fully convinced that the other fossil, Jane, constitutes a new species of Nanotyrannus. “Jane is still maturing and large,” emphasizes Ballard, suggesting it may be a new taxon rather than a juvenile tyrannosaurus. “We’re returning to the old debates,” Ballard laments.

“Moreover, in the Hell Creek Formation, if there are numerous small tyrannosaurs in circulation, where are the juvenile tyrannosaurus? ” Kerr questions, stating that it complicates the fossil record. “We simply haven’t uncovered enough tyrannosaurs to fully elucidate what was occurring during the growth phases of the tyrannosaurids in the Hell Creek Formation.”

Dinosaur hunting in Mongolia’s Gobi desert

Embark on an exhilarating and unique expedition to discover dinosaur ruins in the vast wilderness of the Gobi Desert, one of the world’s most renowned paleontology hotspots.

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Skeleton ‘Pregnancy Test’ May Unlock Secrets of Ancient Maternal Lives

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Skeleton of a woman holding a baby in her left arm, interred in an Anglo-Saxon cemetery in Screnby, England

Dr Hugh Wilmot, University of Sheffield

Researchers are now investigating ancient pregnancy tests undertaken on women from centuries past.

For the first time, scientists have identified levels of estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone in remains of women from the 1st to the 19th century. Some of these women were entombed with their unborn children. This revelation indicates that historic bones and teeth can retain identifiable traces of specific sex hormones, which might aid in discerning which individuals at archaeological sites were pregnant or had recently given birth at the time of their demise, according to Amy Barlow from the University of Sheffield, UK.

“The physiological and emotional impacts of pregnancy, miscarriage, and childbirth carry profound significance for women, yet they remain largely unexplored in archaeological records,” she notes. “This technique could revolutionize how we comprehend the reproductive narratives of ancient populations. We’re genuinely excited about it.”

Establishing pregnancy in ancient individuals can be challenging, particularly if the fetus lacks a visible skeleton. Even second- and third-trimester fetuses may be overlooked due to their bones resembling those of the mother’s hands, often placed on the abdomen during burial.

Contemporary pregnancy tests evaluate hormone levels such as hCG in blood or urine. However, hCG degrades rapidly, leaving minimal evidence in the body.

In contrast, progesterone, estrogen, and testosterone can persist in tissues for extended periods. Recent studies have demonstrated that these steroid hormones are also present in human blood, saliva, and hair. Samples from long-buried Egyptian mummies.

To explore the likelihood of identifying ancient pregnancies, Barlow and her team analyzed rib fragments and one neck bone from two men and seven women interred in four British cemeteries. They also examined teeth from another male.

Two of the women had fetal remains discovered within them, and another two were buried alongside their newborns. The gender of the others was established through DNA analysis.

The research team ground each sample into powder and employed chemical techniques to extract the steroid hormones. Laboratory tests subsequently identified the estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone levels in each of the 74 samples.

Estrogen was only found in four samples, without a discernible pattern. This may be due to its quicker breakdown compared to progesterone or testosterone, which may not accumulate as efficiently in tissues.

However, between the 11th and 14th centuries, heightened levels of progesterone were discovered in the spines of young women who died while carrying full-term fetuses. A later pregnant woman interred in the 18th or 19th century also exhibited elevated progesterone in her ribs. Moderate progesterone levels were noted in the dental plaque of two women buried with their infants during the 5th or 6th century.

Interestingly, no testosterone was detected in the bones or teeth of these four women. However, one woman who was buried with her premature infant had trace amounts of testosterone in her dental plaque. In contrast, three unrelated women from 8th- to 12th-century sites and Roman tombs showed testosterone in all layers of their ribs and teeth.

Low testosterone levels are known to play a crucial role in women’s health, so its discovery in these samples isn’t unexpected, Barlow states. “However, the absence of testosterone may indicate that she was recently or currently pregnant at the time of her death,” she adds.

“This intersection of archaeology and hormone science is exhilarating and unforeseen,” states Alexander Komninos from Imperial College London. “These methods will enhance our ability to detect pregnancy in human remains with greater precision, providing deeper insights into ancient pregnancies.”

Nevertheless, while the findings show promise, additional research is essential to clarify many aspects, according to Barlow. For instance, moderate progesterone levels were frequently found in the bones and inner teeth of men, but the reasoning behind this remains unclear, she comments. “Interpretation is quite cautious at this junction.”

Walking through Hadrian’s Wall and Rome’s innovations: England

Join this immersive walking tour along Hadrian’s Wall, one of Great Britain’s most iconic ancient structures and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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Eerie Roman Skeleton Offers First Clue That Gladiators Faced Lions—and Were Defeated

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Archaeologists have unveiled the first tangible evidence that Roman gladiators confronted lions, following the identification of bite marks on skeletons unearthed in York, England, attributed to a large feline.

The remains discovered on Driffield Terrace, one of the best-preserved gladiator burial sites in Rome, date back around 1,800 years and belong to a man who likely faced a gruesome death at the jaws of a lion.

A recent analysis of the skeleton, excavated over two decades ago, indicates that he probably succumbed to a lion’s attack. The research team compared three-dimensional scans of bite marks on the warrior’s hip bones with lion bite samples from a zoo, confirming a match.

The puncture on the gladiator’s bones provides the first direct evidence of Roman battles involving lions. -Thompson et al

“This is a very exciting discovery,” said Marine Horst, a lecturer in osteophytes at York University and managing director of York Bone Artisans.

“We can now start to paint a clearer picture of what these gladiators experienced in life. We also observe that in urban arenas like York, the existence of big cats and possibly other exotic animals posed a threat they had to defend against.”

The skeletons belonged to men aged between 26 and 35, buried alongside two others and covered with horse bones, indicating a burial practice.

In life, he likely faced malnutrition as a child and exhibited signs of spinal injury, inflammation, and physical stress.

Unhealed lion bites are believed to be the cause of death, after which he seems to have been beheaded—a practice noted in Roman burials, although its significance remains unclear.

Driffield Terrace has long drawn interest, with excavations that began in 2004 revealing over 80 young, robust male skeletons.

While depictions of gladiators battling lions are common, concrete evidence of such encounters is rare. – Councillor of the British Museum

Dental enamel analysis confirmed that these individuals originated from the Roman Empire, and many experienced atypical funerals.

The latest findings bolster the theory that these men were gladiators, referred to as Bestiarius: a class of fighters who faced wild animals often stemming from enslaved backgrounds.

“For years, our comprehension of Roman gladiator combat and animal spectacles relied heavily on historical texts and artistic illustrations,” remarked Professor Tim Thompson from Maynooth University, Ireland.

“This discovery offers the first direct physical evidence proving such events took place during that era, reshaping our understanding of the entertainment culture in the region during Roman times.”

Though no amphitheater has yet been found in York, historical documentation suggests the city hosted arena events from the fourth century onward.

During this period, York served as a pivotal center of the empire, home to prominent Roman generals, including Constantine the Great, who was declared emperor in 306 AD.

David Jennings, CEO of York Archaeology commented on the gladiators: “You may never know that this man fought in an arena for the entertainment of others, but it’s noteworthy that the first osteological evidence of this type of gladiator combat has emerged far from the Colosseum in Rome.”

The study documenting these findings is published in the journal PLOS 1.

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com

First Evidence of Gladiator Battles with Lions revealed through Skeleton Bite Marks

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In Roman arenas, gladiators fought lions and other wildlife. Despite the tales of epic battles found in ancient texts, sculptures, mosaics, and portrayed in modern media, physical evidence of gladiators with animal-inflicted wounds has never been discovered by archaeologists.

Recently, skeletal remains from Roman settlements in the UK provided the first direct evidence of gladiators who were injured by lions.

The discovery was made during excavations in York, where a couple was planning to renovate their garden. The cemetery found at the site halted construction plans and revealed a rich Roman archaeological history in the region.

Tim Thompson, an anthropologist from Maynooth University and author of a paper published in the journal PLOS One, highlighted the significance of this discovery in shedding light on ancient Roman practices.

The site in York contained the remains of over 80 individuals, mostly young men with signs of trauma on their bodies. The demographics, injuries, and burial practices suggest that these individuals were gladiators who fought in the area nearly 1,800 years ago.

One particular skeleton, identified as 6DT19, displayed a unique wound on its hip bone that resembled bite marks from a large animal, possibly a lion.

Further analysis indicated that the injuries on the skeletons could indeed be bite marks from large animals like lions. This finding challenged previous beliefs about the absence of physical evidence of gladiators fighting animals.

Dr. Thompson and his team collaborated with British zoos to study animal bite marks and compare them to the skeletal injuries found on the ancient remains.

Through meticulous analysis and comparison, they concluded that the injuries on the gladiators matched those inflicted by lions. While the bite on 6DT19 likely did not cause death, it provided valuable insights into the practices and culture of the Roman Empire.

This discovery not only sheds light on individual lives from the past but also reveals the extent of Roman influence and entertainment involving gladiator battles with animals.

Dr. Marklein, an anthropologist from the University of Louisville, emphasized the significance of these findings in understanding Roman society and its use of violence as entertainment and political display.

Gladiator games served not only as spectacles of power but also as warnings and demonstrations of Roman citizenship and virtue.

This discovery underscores the complex relationship between humans, animals, and culture in ancient Rome.

Source: www.nytimes.com

Wellman from Norse Mythology identified as skeleton found in castle by scientists

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For 800 years, he was the stuff of Norse legend.

Scientists have now revealed that skeletal remains discovered in a well at Norway’s Sverresborg Castle belong to a mysterious figure from medieval stories.

New findings using advanced DNA analysis and Published in iScience magazine On Friday, they will connect the body’s identity to a passage from a centuries-old Norse document called the Sveris Saga. It compiles various sources describing internal political struggles, or civil wars, in medieval Norway from 1130 to 1217.

Named after King Sverre Sigurdsson of Norway, the tale depicts the political conflict between the king and his arch-enemy, Eystein Erlensson, Archbishop of Nidaros.

According to this story, during a military attack in 1197 aimed at poisoning the local population’s main water source, the dead bodies, later known as the “Well Man,” were tossed into the well.

Little else is mentioned about the well man or his identity in the story.

Research project leader Mike Martin, a professor at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, told NBC News that historians are often skeptical of the historical accuracy of events described in such stories.

“This story is a blend of historical fact, narrative, political propaganda, and Old Norse religion,” he stated in an email Monday.

However, Stephen Brink, from the Department of Anglo-Saxon, Nordic, and Celtic Studies at the University of Cambridge, noted that the Sveris Saga is considered one of the most reliable historical sources because it was written during and immediately after a period of political unrest. This led to better understanding in England. He was not part of the study.

Human bones belonging to ‘Wellman’ have been sorted and cataloged.
via iScience

Human bones were initially found in the castle’s well during renovation work in 1938, but due to the outbreak of World War II at the time, researchers could only carry out visual examinations.

The remains stayed in the well for another 80 years until excavations began in 2014, led by Anna Petersen of the Norwegian Institute for Cultural Heritage in Oslo.

By 2016, a complete skeleton was retrieved from the Sverresborg well in Trondheim, central Norway.

Recent scientific advancements have provided various advanced techniques to analyze human remains in more detail, including genetic sequencing and radiocarbon dating.

The human genome is about 99.6% similar. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), genetic variation accounts for only 0.4%.

The research team determined the genomic variation by extracting DNA from Wellman’s teeth, mandible, and maxilla.

“We had access to teeth during the COVID-19 pandemic, and research really picked up speed,” Professor Martin remarked. It took approximately six years in total to complete.

“Wellman” teeth.
via iScience

Experts suggest that this genetic research could offer insights into the remains discovered in previous archaeological excavations.

“This project demonstrates the significance of scientific archaeology, and the collaboration between archaeology and history, in today’s research, often resulting in remarkable findings like this one,” Brink remarked.

Excavation work at the site where 800-year-old ruins were discovered.
via iScience

Advancements in technology have allowed human bones to be linked to characters from Norse mythology, blurring the line between legendary myth and historical reality.

This is not the first instance where the skeletal remains of a character from a story have been uncovered.

Elizabeth Lowe, a professor of Scandinavian history at the University of Cambridge in the UK, highlights that Research published by Jesse L. Byock in 1995 presents a compelling argument for identifying the remains of the 10th-century Icelandic poet Egil Skallagrimsson, whose tale is recounted in the 13th-century Egil Saga.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

DNA analysis confirms the identity of ‘Wellman’ skeleton with an 800-year-old Norwegian tale

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Complete skeletal remains of “Wellman”

Eiji Hojem, NTNU University Museum

Researchers now believe they have identified the remains of a Norwegian story written more than 800 years ago that depicts a dead man being thrown into a castle well.

The Sverris Saga is a 182-section Old Norse document that records the exploits of King Sverre Sigurdsson, who came to power in the late 12th century. In one section, it is said that rival clans who attacked Sveresborg Castle near Trondheim, Norway, “took the dead, threw them into a well, and buried them with stones.”

The well was located within the castle walls and was the only permanent source of water for the area. It has been speculated that the man thrown into the well in this story may have been suffering from a disease, and that throwing him into the well may have been an early act of biological warfare.

In 1938, part of a medieval well in the ruins of Sveresborg Castle was drained, and a skeleton was discovered beneath the rubble and rocks at the bottom. The skeleton, known as “Wellman,” was widely believed to be the remains of the person mentioned in the story, but it was impossible to confirm that at the time.

now, Anna Petersen Researchers at the Norwegian Institute for Cultural Heritage in Oslo used radiocarbon dating and DNA analysis of the remains' teeth to show that the range of dates in which the man was alive is consistent with the castle raid. . Although it's not conclusive proof that the man is the person mentioned in the story, “circumstantial evidence is consistent with this conclusion,” Pellersen said.

The Well Man's skeleton was discovered in 1938

Riksantikvaren (Norwegian Directorate General for Cultural Heritage)

Additionally, the team was able to further enrich the story. “The investigation we conducted uncovered many details about both the incident and the person that were not mentioned in the story episode,” Petersen said.

For example, DNA suggests he likely had blue eyes and blonde or light brown hair. Researchers also believe, based on comparisons with modern and ancient Norwegian DNA,
that his ancestors came from Vest Agder County, in what is now the southernmost tip of Norway.

What they couldn't find was any evidence that the men were thrown into the well because they were sick or to make drinking water unavailable, but no evidence to the contrary. can't be found, and the question remains unanswered.

michael martin The researchers at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim say their approach of matching historical documents with DNA evidence will help them build family trees of long-deceased royal families and “physically reveal life stories such as movements.” He states that it may also be applicable to “describing and drawing schematically.” Anonymous people whose remains were recovered from archaeological excavations across geographic regions. ”

Researchers collected DNA from one of the skeleton's teeth

Norwegian Institute of Cultural Heritage (NIKU)

“To my knowledge, this is the earliest instance in which genomic information has been recovered from a specific person, or even a specific person, described in an ancient text,” Martin said.

He says generating genomic information from ancient skeletons can provide new details about a person. “These details are not included in the original text, so genetic data enriches the story and provides a way to separate fact from fiction,” Martin says.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Record-breaking auction sees Stegosaurus skeleton sold for $44 million

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summary

  • A nearly complete stegosaurus skeleton sold at auction on Wednesday for a record-breaking $44.6 million.
  • Sotheby’s, which handled the auction, said the fossil was the best-preserved specimen of a stegosaurus of its size ever found.
  • The identity of the buyer was not made public.

A nearly complete 150-million-year-old stegosaurus skeleton sold at auction on Wednesday for a record-breaking $44.6 million.

Sotheby’s, which handled the New York auction, described the fossil as the “most complete” and “best-preserved” stegosaurus specimen of its size ever found. The massive skeleton, measuring 11 feet tall and 20 feet long, has been nicknamed “Apex.”

Dinosaur fossils It's estimated to be worth $6 million. But the price far exceeded expectations, setting a new world record for a fossil at auction after a bidding war that lasted more than 15 minutes, according to Sotheby’s representative Anna Tisci.

The identity of the buyer was not made public.

According to Sotheby’s, Apex’s skeleton was unearthed in 2022 near the town of Dinosaur in Moffat County, Colorado, on the private property of a paleontologist who discovered it but will remain anonymous. The bones were found in the Morrison Formation of sedimentary rock, which is centered in Colorado and Wyoming and extends to parts of 11 other states.

The auction house said the fossil was found with no other specimens nearby and no signs of injury, adding that signs of arthritis suggested the stegosaurus may have lived to an advanced age.

“Apex marks an enormous milestone as one of the finest fossils of its kind ever unearthed,” said Cassandra Hutton, Sotheby’s global head of science and popular culture. It said in a statement “Stegosaurus is one of the most widely known dinosaurs, and its unmistakable silhouette has fascinated and amazed people for generations,” the release said in a statement ahead of the sale.

Stegosaurus is a four-legged, armored dinosaur best known for the distinctive line of kite-shaped plates on its back.

The pointy-tailed dinosaurs lived during the Late Jurassic period, between about 155 million and 145 million years ago.

Another nearly complete stegosaurus fossil, known as Sophie, is housed at the Natural History Museum in London, but Apex’s skeleton is more than 30 percent larger, according to Sotheby’s.

The previous record for the most expensive fossil sold at auction was set in 2020 when a Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton named “Stan” sold for $31.8 million.

The first dinosaur sold at auction was the now famous “Sue the T-Rex“The Great Gatsby” was auctioned in 1997 and purchased by the Field Museum in Chicago, where the painting is on display, for $8.4 million.

Source: www.nbcnews.com