🧐 Ancient Beat #125: Bronze helmets, bone spears, and interspecies love

Hello hello! Welcome one and all to issue #125 of Ancient Beat — here’s the latest ancient news. 👇

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🗞 Ancient News: Top 5

• Archaeologists Discover a Likely Place for Neanderthal and Homo Sapiens Interbreeding — Archaeologists have identified the Zagros Mountains, located on the Persian Plateau, as a likely region where Neanderthals and Homo sapiens interbred during the Late Pleistocene. The area, known for its biodiversity, was a favorable habitat for Neanderthals and lay in the migration path of Homo sapiens moving out of Africa. This overlap made it highly probable that the two species interacted and interbred. The region has yielded skeletons of both species and is historically significant for other finds, such as the significant (and also contested) Neanderthal "flower burial". The ecological and geographical analysis points to this location as a critical zone of contact between the two groups.

• A Hidden Lineage: New Insights into Neanderthal Evolution — Speaking of Neanderthals, a recent study reveals that European Neanderthals were not a uniform group but consisted of at least two distinct populations that evolved in isolation. The key discovery comes from "Thorin," a Neanderthal fossil found in France’s Grotte Mandrin rock shelter. Dating between 50,000 and 42,000 years ago, Thorin’s genome shows significant divergence from other Neanderthals, indicating a separate lineage that developed in southwestern Europe. This isolated population exhibited high genetic similarity within itself, suggesting limited interbreeding with other groups. The findings challenge previous notions of Neanderthal uniformity and highlight a more complex evolutionary history involving local extinctions and migrations.

• Bronze Helm Among 300 Celtic Treasures Discovered In Poland — Archaeologists in Poland have uncovered over 300 Celtic artifacts, including a 4th-century BCE bronze helmet, in the region of Mazovia. The discoveries were found in a previously undisturbed settlement, showcasing a rich collection of metal objects, jewelry, and tools, suggesting the Celts had a significant presence in the area. Notably, the bronze helm is believed to have been used for ceremonial purposes or as a status symbol, given its elaborate design. Other objects in the trove include ornate fibulae (brooches), swords, and horse harness fittings, pointing to the Celts’ advanced craftsmanship and their role in regional trade and warfare during this period​.

Image credit: State Archaeological Museum in Warsaw

• 50,000-Year-Old Spearhead Made from Horse Bone Found in Rock Shelter — A spearhead crafted from horse bone, dating back approximately 50,000 years, was discovered in a rock shelter in France. The artifact was found among other animal remains and stone tools. This spearhead is remarkable because it showcases early humans' skill in utilizing various materials for hunting tools. Its craftsmanship and preservation offer a glimpse into the technological abilities and survival strategies of either Homo sapiens or Neanderthals, both of whom were inhabiting the region during that period.

• Clovis People Used Great Lakes Camp Annually About 13,000 Years Ago — Evidence from the Belson Clovis Site in southwest Michigan suggests that Clovis people returned annually to this camp around 13,000 years ago, during the Pleistocene epoch. Over 20 tools and hundreds of debris pieces were discovered at the site, indicating prolonged use. The tools were made from chert, a stone sourced 400 miles away in what is now Kentucky, suggesting long-distance trade routes. The Clovis people likely followed a yearly migration cycle, wintering in central Indiana and returning to Michigan in the summer. Tool analysis reveals a varied diet of musk ox, caribou, hare, peccary, and possibly plants. These findings challenge the belief that Clovis people were primarily big-game hunters, showing they had a broader dietary range — the distinctive Clovis spear points, characterized by their central flute, were used for hunting prey of all sizes.

That’s it for the free Top 5! If you’re a free subscriber, sign up for the paid plan for another 23 discoveries and 6 recommended pieces of content covering invasions, brains, skin boats, agriculture, Tell ‘Abr 3, and the Tartessos civilization.

Until next time, thanks for joining me!

-James
Twitter: @jamesofthedrum

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🗞 Ancient News: Deep Dive