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Valcamonica is an Italian Alpine valley that has been the transit route for people and goods in prehistoric, Roman, medieval, and modern times. This led to the presence of artefacts from different eras and/or the occurrence of artefacts made of non-coeval parts. This research reports the characterization of an artefact in the Museum of Breno (Brescia Province). It is surmised that the artwork is made of different and non-coeval parts. The aim of the research is to investigate the natural pigments dyeing the different parts of the artefact, to infer information also on the origin and the dating. The investigation is supported by different analytical techniques (microscopic, spectroscopic, chromatographic, and spectrometric evaluation). The artifact is an Imago Pietatis, with Christ emerging from the tomb with his open arms. Microscopic observation allowed a preliminary evaluation of the colouration and to hypothesize the pigments used. 1H NMR analysis and spectrophotometric analysis suggested the presence of Tyrian purple and logwood (Haematoxylum campechianum) in the background of the sacred image, that was probably a liturgical vestment dismembered and overdyed. It is very likely that the image was in use to a brotherhood of Disciplini, a secular congregation very active in Valcamonica whose activities consisted in praying for the dead and making processions. Our work was important for the narration of this artefact and could be useful for the reconstruction of the object in the original colours, for providing to the local stakeholders a suitable recognition for this historical discovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lithic artifacts are crucial for elucidation of the temporal and spatial patterns of prehistoric human occupation of the Tibetan Plateau. Core-and-flake technology is particularly noteworthy, as it is distinguished by its broad temporal span and widespread distribution across the plateau. In this study, we present the results of a reassessment of the lithic assemblage from the Su-re site in Tingri County, Shigatse City, Xizang Autonomous Region, China. Its resemblance to lithic assemblages from Southwestern China implies a close relationship between the plateau and its southeastern vicinity, contributing to the diversification of technology and prehistoric humans on the Tibetan Plateau. Moreover, gneissic pebbles transported by glacial meltwater in the Tingri Graben—the most suitable raw material available in the vicinity—explains the presence of prehistoric humans in the inhospitable Qomolangma region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Determine the geographic place of origin and maternal lineage of prehistoric human skeletal remains discovered in Puyil Cave, Tabasco State, Mexico, located in a region currently populated by Olmec, Zoque and Maya populations. Materials and Methods: All specimens were radiocarbon (14C) dated (beta analytic), had dental modifications classified, and had an analysis of 13 homologous reference points conducted to evaluate artificial cranial deformation (ACD). Following DNA purification, hypervariable region I (HVR‐1) of the mitogenome was amplified and Sanger sequenced. Finally, Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) was performed for total DNA. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) variants and haplogroups were determined using BioEdit 7.2 and IGV software and confirmed with MITOMASTER and WebHome softwares. Results: Radiocarbon dating (14C) demonstrated that the inhabitants of Puyil Cave lived during the Archaic and Classic Periods and displayed tabular oblique and tabular mimetic ACD. These pre‐Hispanic remains exhibited five mtDNA lineages: A, A2, C1, C1c and D4. Network analysis revealed a close genetic affinity between pre‐Hispanic Puyil Cave inhabitants and contemporary Maya subpopulations from Mexico and Guatemala, as well as individuals from Bolivia, Brazil, the Dominican Republic, and China. Conclusions: Our results elucidate the dispersal of pre‐Hispanic Olmec and Maya ancestors and suggest that ACD practices are closely related to Olmec and Maya practices. Additionally, we conclude that ACD has likely been practiced in the region since the Middle‐Archaic Period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the Holocene, the upper and middle reaches of the Yellow River valley in China were pivotal areas for agricultural development. Quantitatively reconstructing the spatiotemporal changes in prehistoric human land use is essential for understanding, from a long-term perspective, the interactions among evolutions of climate, agriculture, and human activities. Based on 327 archaeological sites and the PLUM (prehistoric land use model), we quantitatively reconstructed human land use changes from 6 to 3 ka BP (thousands of years before the present) in the Tao River valley, the second-largest tributary in the upper reach of the Yellow River valley. The results indicated that regional land use areas increased from 571 km2 to 1468 km2, with spatial expansion from the lower reach to the upper–middle reach of the Tao River valley. A comparison of the five areas distributed across the upper and middle reaches of the Yellow River valley revealed two different trends of increasing land use from 8 to 3 ka BP within these areas. The first group (the Wei River and Yiluo River valleys) exhibited rapid and substantial growth before 5 ka BP, while the second group (the Huangshui River and Tao River valleys, and the Yunlin district) showed a much slower and less significant increase before 5 ka BP, but a more obvious increase thereafter. The asynchronous increases in these areas indicate an expansion of land use from the southeastern part of the upper and middle reaches of the Yellow River Valley to across the entire region between 8 and 3 ka BP, which was primarily driven by agricultural development and cultural communication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we study diet composition of prehistoric human populations of Northwest Patagonia by exploring the combination of two different approaches frequently used in bioarchaeology, Bayesian isotope mixing models, and zooarchaeological analysis. For this purpose, we compiled a large dataset of previously published δ13C and δ15N human and resource values, as well as zooarchaeological data, corresponding to the Middle–Late Holocene and distributed throughout Northwest Patagonia. We first propose a replicable approach to divide the region into different areas comprising human individuals that shared the same available resources and perform isotope mixing models at individual level using default (i.e., uninformative) prior distributions in the Bayesian mixing models. Then, we explore a potential complementation of isotopic and zooarchaeological evidence by introducing the frequency of zooarchaeological assemblages with the different resources, as well as NISP, as priors in the Bayesian mixing models to guide diet estimations. Additionally, we use these frequencies to analyze the possible absence of some important resources in previous analyses. Based on the species distribution and geographical location of bioarchaeological sites, we divided the region into five areas (Northwest and Northeast Neuquén, South Neuquén/Rio Negro, and Southwest and Central‐east Mendoza) that differ in the resources available for potential human consumption. The results obtained show high diet variability among these areas, with individuals from Northwest and Northeast Neuquén consuming mainly large animals (i.e., guanaco and rhea, respectively) and South Neuquén/Rio Negro and Center‐east and Southwest Mendoza consuming a larger diversity of resources. Our results show that considering zooarchaeological priors in the analyses results in diet composition estimations more in line with the ecological diversity present in the region than previous estimations. We propose that approaches like this, which are common in ecological studies, should be considered in bioarchaeology to make more robust estimates of diet composition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Caprine herding in the hyper-arid zone of the Southern Levant emerged in the early Holocene during a brief moist episode (∼9500 years ago) within semi-permanent Middle PPNB settlements that depended on herding, farming, and hunting/foraging, organized within a transhumant land use strategy. With the onset of much drier conditions (∼9200 years ago) these Desert Neolithic settlements were abandoned in Late PPNB times giving way to Timnian groups that followed a more mobile settlement strategy with an emphasis on herding accompanied by range expansion. Through introducing a case study of the Desert Neolithic site of Ayn Abū Nukhayla and a deep sounding in a nearby dry lake bed, climatic-environmental fluctuations, human demographics, resource availability and land use strategies are evaluated as interwoven effects relative to the progressive shifts seen between prehistoric human populations and caprine herds. And these changes are viewed in the context of cultural macroevolutionary theory, specifically in the framework of Niche Construction Theory (NCT), in weighing the differential influences of human agency and natural selection on the process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rise of ancient DNA studies in prehistoric archaeology, terms such as matriliny and patriliny are commonly used in scholarly literature. From a sociocultural anthropological perspective, however, the two terms are not as simple and unproblematic as is widely accepted among archaeogeneticists. Matriliny and patriliny are umbrella terms for societies with a wide range of political and kinship practices, with or without a state. Moreover, archaeogenetic literature has assumed specific associations with matrilineal and patrilineal descent that are not supported by sociocultural anthropology. To properly understand the diversity of human sociopolitical forms in both the deep and recent past, archaeology – in its broadest sense, including archaeogenetics – must avoid essentializing prehistoric communities without exploring the empirical nuances that are well documented ethnographically. Finally, the article calls for more engagement in debates on kinship and sociopolitical organization in prehistory from sociocultural anthropological perspectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here, we present the first-ever attempt to combine palaeoenvironmental records (n = 17) from dated stratigraphic sequences with Geographic Information System (GIS) spatial modelling of archaeological sites (3 phases; n = 306 sites) in the Ganga Plain. The spatial modelling assesses the distribution of archaeological sites and phases on maps showing changing elevation, geology, geomorphology, biome, and rainfall variability within the Ganga Plain, aiming to evaluate the human-environment relationship during the Late Quaternary Period. The compilation of oxygen and hydrogen isotopic composition (δ18O and δD values) and pollen-based environment reconstructions for the last ∼100 ka indicates high rainfall conditions during ∼100–75 ka, ∼10–5 ka, and ∼3.6–1.3 ka. Fluctuating rainfall conditions were observed during ∼75–25 ka and ∼18–15 ka, while the period from ∼25 to 18 ka was the weakest monsoon phase, marking the Last Glacial Maximum. Arid conditions were also observed during ∼15–10 ka and ∼5–3.6 ka. The archaeological review suggests the presence of the Acheulian culture, diverse Mesolithic cultures, and the Neolithic phase marked by advanced agriculture and pottery production in the Ganga Plain. The past environmental analyses show changes in settlement areas correlating with rainfall variations. Frequent climate changes and increasing population density during the Late Pleistocene-Early Holocene boundary probably forced prehistoric humans to adopt agricultural practices. The distribution of archaeological sites representing different cultural phases on the modern spatial maps of landscape variability (e.g., elevation, rainfall, geomorphology, and geology) reflects an intricate relationship between prehistoric human settlements, monsoonal rainfall, and climate-driven landform processes. Our assessment suggests that the integration of archaeological sites, geological mapping, vegetation analysis, and palaeoclimate records has the potential to provide valuable insights into ancient human-environment interactions. Therefore, we recommend continued interdisciplinary research in these fields to further enhance our knowledge of prehistoric societies and their responses to changing landscapes and climates in the Ganga Plain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Excavated Japanese zithers are likely the oldest surviving stringed instruments in East Asia. This article reviews diachronic changes that occurred in the forms of wood zithers in pre- and protohistoric Japan over approximately two millennia (ca. 1500 B.C.-A.D. 600). It highlights developments such as the addition of resonator boxes, average size increase, and inclusion of figural ornamentation. Results indicate that these formal developments, in addition to the adoption of a seated playing posture as portrayed in Kofun haniwa musician figurines, were driven by the needs of growing communities and their leaders. This analysis suggests that examining changes in musical instruments can be used alongside traditional lines of evidence to research the origins of social complexity and thereby carves out space for a humanistic approach to the study of prehistory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although still incomplete, the epidemiology of epilepsy shows substantial variations in the burden of the condition according to demographic, social and territorial characteristics. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of treated epilepsy and to investigate its demographic and spatial distribution in 2020 in France, a country where the nationwide epidemiological situation of the condition remains largely unknown. Methods: We used the French national health data system, which covers nearly the entire population residing in France (over 67 million of inhabitants in metropolitan and overseas departments). Prevalent cases were identified using long-term disease status, hospitalisation for epilepsy (ICD-10 codes G40 or G41), and reimbursements for antiseizure medications and electroencephalograms. Results: In 2020, we identified 685,122 epilepsy cases, corresponding to an overall prevalence of 10.2 per 1000 inhabitants [95% confidence interval 10.1–10.2], with similar rates in men and women. Estimates were found to increase with age, with an accelerated rise in the second half of the life, which occurred earlier in men than in women. We observed a monotonic gradient of variation with socio-economic deprivation (in non-military metropolitan subjects aged 18–54 years) as well as territorial heterogeneity, with the mountainous centre of France as well as some French overseas departments having the highest prevalence. Conclusions: Our results revise upwards the estimation of epilepsy prevalence in France, showing that it now ranks among the highest in developed countries. Our study also confirms the important socio-territorial heterogeneity of the condition that reflects health inequalities in this country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This essay revisits one of the most acclaimed paintings of Rembrandt van Rijn's later years, Aristotle with the Bust of Homer (1654; The Metropolitan Museum of Art). The painter's approach to the subject of this work owes much to visual precedents and to the reception of Aristotle among early modern men of letters, including within the intellectual circles of seventeenth-century Holland. The unusual appearance of the philosopher, which has often led to conflicting interpretations, becomes much clearer when considered against the long-standing perception of his cultural "otherness." The stance and gesture of this Aristotle not only affirm his identity but point to key aspects of his epistemology, focusing on the role of touch as the first step toward knowledge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Upper Paleolithic lithic assemblages have traditionally been considered a paramount example of the high level of complexity characterizing the technological behavior of prehistoric modern humans. The diversity and standardization of tools, as well as the systematic production of blades and bladelets, show the high investment of time, energy and knowledge often associated with Upper Paleolithic technocomplexes. However, more expedient behaviors have also been documented. In some cases, such low-cost behaviors can be dominant or almost exclusive, giving assemblages of Upper Paleolithic age an "archaic" appearance. In this paper, we address these expedient Upper Paleolithic technologies through the study of a lithic assemblage recovered from a Gravettian-age layer from the Lagar Velho rockshelter (Leiria, Portugal). Due to the specific formation processes characterizing this site, we also discuss the distinction between artifacts and geofacts, an aspect that is particularly difficult in expedient assemblages. Moreover, the combination of lithic refitting and data on thermal damage allows us to approach the temporal nature of the lithic assemblage and the timing of the different agents contributing to its formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the open-access Mediterranean Archive of Isotopic dAta (MAIA) dataset, which includes over 48,000 isotopic measurements from prehistoric human, animal and plant samples from archaeological sites in the Mediterranean basin dating from the Neolithic to the Iron Age (ca. 6000 – 600 BCE). MAIA collates isotopic measurements (δ13C, δ15N, δ34S, δ18O and 87Sr/86Sr) alongside supporting information (e.g. chronology, location and bibliographic reference). MAIA can be used to explore past human and animal diets and mobility, reconstruct paleo-ecological and -climatic phenomena and investigate human-environment interaction throughout later prehistory in the Mediterranean. MAIA has multiple research applications and here we show how it can be used to evaluate sample preservation and identify data gaps to be addressed in future research. MAIA is available in an open-access format and can be employed in archaeological, anthropological, and paleo-ecological research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The occupation process and survival strategies of prehistoric humans on the Tibetan Plateau are important scientific questions for understanding human adaptation to extreme high-altitude environments. Here, we report a newly discovered microlithic site at Daiqu (DQ) in the Tongtian River basin of the central-eastern plateau. We collected 239 lithic artifacts from the DQ site for typological analysis. OSL and AMS14C dating samples were collected from the human active layer. Lipid residues from hearth sediments were analyzed, and we simulated and assessed environmental extremity and route accessibility for the site. Dating results suggest that the stable sedimentary layers began to form around 10.96 ± 0.56 ka BP at the DQ site. Human activity at DQ as early as 9271 ± 143 cal a BP, making it the earliest reported Holocene site with accurate stratigraphic dating on the plateau hinterland to date. Hearths and lithic artifacts indicate that the DQ site was a frequently used seasonal hunting camp, where quality lithic raw material was obtained and microliths processed. Prehistoric humans occupying the site relied on non-ruminant terrestrial animals as food resources. The DQ site is ideally situated to serve as a transit station for hunter-gatherers as they migrated between high and low elevations. Ameliorating Holocene climate promoted prehistoric human exploration of more environmentally extreme areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The wood, being a commonly existing versatile material, has indeed played a vital role in all human history. Since the wood is the most vulnerable to decomposition, the wood artefacts of the prehistoric period have rarely survived, except in the extraordinary conditions for preservation. Some of the excavations in the prehistoric sites revealed the multipurpose use of wood as digging sticks, firewood and other purposes by the prehistoric men. The tradition of erecting wooden stems as an embodiment of deity and worshipping them has been found in many countries in the ancient times. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of the suitability of prehistoric human settlements (SPHE) can help us reproduce the process and characteristics of prehistoric human settlements, and is an important entry point for exploring the relationship between prehistoric humans and land. In this study, we discuss the definition, compositional structure, evolutionary mechanism, and spatiotemporal representation of the suitability of prehistoric human settlements, and propose its main research lines and possible research contents. We believe that the suitability of prehistoric human settlement environments refers to the ability and process of natural and social environmental conditions to meet the needs of human survival within a certain spatial range centered on the settlement of prehistoric humans. Additionally, with the temporal and spatial evolution of humans, society, and nature, it shows local consistency and global gradual and continuous change characteristics, and the human settlement environment has a suitability hierarchy of natural original, livelihood, and living spaces nested step by step. We believe that we can adopt the main research line of prehistoric human settlement suitability system construction to conduct extensive experiments and demonstrations on the theoretical construction, the evolution of the environment and living process, the relationship and evaluation of prehistoric human needs, the transformation of the living environment, living adaptation theories and models, and value and limitation verification. Thus, a complete research system can be formed to explore the evolution of the prehistoric human–land relationship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Study investigating mpox infection and its association with sexual behavior among men who have sex with men (MSM) in China was lacking. This observational survey aimed to provide evidence on detail characteristics of mpox cases and sexual behavior, then analyze their relationship among MSM in China to help formulate prevention and control policies. An anonymous cross‐sectional study was conducted in 27 MSM social organizations across 21 provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions from July 31 to August 4, 2023. A safe sexual behavior index was constructed based on three risky sexual behaviors in the last month, including condomless anal intercourse, commercial sex and group sex. High safe sexual behavior indicated that the participant engaged in none of the three, and low safe sexual behavior indicated that they engaged in all three behaviors; otherwise, moderate safe sexual behavior was indicated. Among 7538 MSM, the prevalence of mpox was 0.73% (55/7538). The proportion of high safe sexual behavior was 79.64% (6003/7538). The crude prevalence of mpox was lower in the high safe sexual behavior group (0.35%, 21/6003), compared with the low (12.12%, 8/66) and moderate safe (1.78%, 26/1469) sexual behavior group. In the multivariable‐adjusted analysis, after adjusting for all covariates, compared with low safe sexual behavior group, moderate safe sexual behavior group (aOR = 0.21; 95% CI = 0.08, 0.54) and high safe sexual behavior group (aOR = 0.04; 95% CI = 0.02, 0.12) both had lower risk of mpox. Of three sexual behaviors, MSM who reported no commercial sex had the lowest risk of mpox (aOR = 0.23; 95% CI = 0.13, 0.41), compared with those who reported commercial sex in the last month. The other two safe sexual behaviors both were associated with lower risk of mpox (no group sex vs. group sex: aOR = 0.15; 95% CI = 0.08, 0.28; no condomless anal intercourse vs. condomless anal intercourse: aOR = 0.23; 95% CI = 0.13, 0.41). The prevalence of mpox virus infection was nearly 1% among MSM in China. Strengthening mpox surveillance, emphasizing safe sexual behavior in health education are essential for the control of mpox among MSM in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Megalithic cultures have spread to every location in which there are traces of prehistoric humans on earth. The Korean Peninsula is no exception. The different types of menhir, cromlechs (stone circles), and stone images are not currently popular in English literature. However, approximately 40,000 dolmens (out of 60,000 worldwide) are in this region alone. Indeed, megaliths have been found all over Korea, including the Jeju and Ulleung Islands. Additionally, historical and cultural studies suggest that these sacred sites and their stones are relics dating from at least the late (East Asian) Neolithic Age to the late Bronze Age (c. 3100-300 BCE). Dolmen shapes are divided into table-style, draughtboard-style, and open-style, with the three dolmens of Hwasun, Gochang, and Ganghwa Island even recognized as a World Heritage (UNESCO) site. This article explores the socio-cultural map of the Korean dolmens. It also argues that the dolmens' purpose (e.g., tombs, Feng-Shui, and ritual), their application of cup-marks (leadership, astrology, and healing), and ancient Korean history have significant implications for understanding the prehistoric East Asian life of Gojoseon (2333-108 BCE). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The contribution of migrated people from once green Sahara (about 10,000–6000 years bc) towards Mediterranean area had probably a double effect: both genetic and cultural connections have been described between Western Europe and North Africa. Sudanese populations from different ethnicities have been studied for HLA-A, -B, -DRB1 and -DQB1 antigens by a standard microlymphotoxicity method. Results found show that Nubians are genetically related with African Sub-Saharan populations and distant from other Sudanese tribes, who are closer to Mediterranean populations than to Sub-Saharan ones. This is concordant with other authors and meta-analysis data. Our present work is, to our knowledge, the first and only one HLA research that studies Sudanese people according to different Sudan ethnic groups: samples were collected before Sudan partition between North and South. A prehistoric genetic and peoples exchange between Africa and the Mediterranean basin may be observed and is supported with the results obtained in this Sudanese HLA study. However, demic diffusion model of agriculture and other anthropological traits from Middle East to West Europe/Maghreb do not exist: a more detailed Sahel and North African countries ancient and recent admixture studies are also being carried out which may clearer explain pastoralists/agriculture innovations origins in Eurafrican Mediterranean and Atlantic façade. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cold and hypoxic environment of the Tibetan Plateau was a major challenge for its prehistoric human occupants. The earliest known hominin occupation (or visitation) of the Tibetan Plateau was at ~200 ka, in the middle Pleistocene, and these hominins must have had survival strategies for this harsh environment. We report the discovery of 5 handprints and 17 footprints on the travertine near the outlet of the Quesang hot spring, a well-documented archeological site with well-studied hominin hand and footprints on the Tibetan Plateau. Based on ichnological analysis and U-Th dating, we found that these intentional and unintentional traces were impressed during the early to middle Holocene. Combined with the 19 previously-dated hand and footprints from around the hot spring, we conclude that this site was attractive to ancient humans who made repeated visits over a long period. The strengthened monsoon in the early and middle Holocene may have promoted the expansion of prehistoric human activity onto the central Tibetan Plateau. The frequent human activities near the Quesang hot spring imply that the widespread hot springs on the Tibetan Plateau provided resources that facilitated human survival in this cold and dry plateau region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on one of ancient mythology's most notorious voices, the nymph Circe, daughter of the Sun and witch of Aeaea. Tracing the evolution of Circe's mythology through the works of Vergil, Ovid, and Valerius Flaccus, it shows how these early imperial authors use her presence in Rome's family tree to push back on Augustus' version of Rome's genealogy and his own right to rule. By embedding Circe in the "Italian" side of Rome's antecedents, they demonstrate the fragility of the principate's claim to legitimacy through control of Rome's inheritance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Namibia is rich in hunter-gatherer rock art from the Later Stone Age (LSA); this is a tradition of which well-executed engravings of animal tracks in large numbers are characteristic. Research into rock art usually groups these motifs together with geometric signs; at best, therefore, it may provide summary lists of them. To date, the field has completely disregarded the fact that tracks and trackways are a rich medium of information for hunter-gatherers, alongside their deeper, culture-specific connotations. A recent research project, from which this article has emerged, has attempted to fill this research gap; it entailed indigenous tracking experts from the Kalahari analysing engraved animal tracks and human footprints in a rock art region in central Western Namibia, the Doro! nawas Mountains, which is the site of recently discovered rock art. The experts were able to define the species, sex, age group and exact leg of the specific animal or human depicted in more than 90% of the engravings they analysed (N = 513). Their work further demonstrates that the variety of fauna is much richer in engraved tracks than in depictions of animals in the same engraving tradition. The analyses reveal patterns that evidently arise from culturally determined preferences. The study represents further confirmation that indigenous knowledge, with its profound insights into a range of particular fields, has the capacity to considerably advance archaeological research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bone density is not a standard parameter examined during anthropological analysis, although researchers increasingly attempt to assess bone mineral density (BMD) in prehistoric populations. Computed tomography (CT) has great potential in this type of research. Micro CT is a precise and universal tool for bone density measurement based on CT value (attenuation factor of the X‐rays at a given point in space). Thirty‐four archaeological human radial bone samples from four chronologically and geographically different sites from southern Poland were examined here. Real BMD was measured (mass/volume) and compared with BMD obtained with the use of CT value results to verify correlation between those two parameters. The micro CT density values were estimated with an uncertainty of less than 0.03 g/cm3 in more than 75% of samples. This method does not require any special sample preparation and any substitute of soft tissues. This technique enables measurement of the cortical and cancellous bone separately in even partial or damaged bones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An editorial is presented on the discusses the development of ethno archaeology as a discipline, focusing on the application of analogies and ethnological observations to reconstruct prehistoric lifestyles. It highlights the use of photographic material and sketches from various regions, it mentions that the wide geographical scope and diverse professional interests within this field.

Understanding the landscape evolution and human-environmental interaction within it is one of the key tasks of early Holocene research. As mobile hunter–gatherers leave few traces of structural organization, understanding their habitats is relevant for comprehending these people. Rarely does the spatial distribution of artifacts correspond to the real pattern of past human activity, but rather shows the pattern of identified artifacts. Geophysical investigations try to fill this gap and have been applied increasingly in archaeological prospection delivering landscape reconstruction, which are verified and fine-tuned using corings and excavations. Despite promising 3D models, a tool to predict the location of undiscovered former human presence and the conditions which influenced people to move across the landscape is not well developed. The primary goal of this paper is to present a methodology for connecting spatial patterns of past human activity based on archaeological and geophysical data. We discuss different GPR (ground-penetrating radar) facies classified at the shoreline of the former Lake Duvensee and geomorphological variables, which leads to the possibility of understanding where and why people chose preferred areas to settle on former islands. We also demonstrate that Mesolithic hunter–gatherer groups preferred dry areas with access to open water for short-term campsites and flatter and more protected areas for specialized and repeatedly occupied campsites. The cardinal orientation of a campsite seems to be secondary to the local peat over-growing process and access to water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents and critically assesses the latest anthropological and archaeological research on the chronology, lethality, and frequency of violence and war in human history. Stepping back from the rhetorically polarized dispute between 'Hobbesians' and 'Rousseauans', the article examines the methods and findings of the latest research in a conceptually novel way, i.e. by dropping the existing and widely used polarized terms that have inevitably framed the literature so far. The article demonstrates that multiple sources of evidence point more in the direction of the modal human prehistoric social organization, i.e. nomadic hunter-gatherers, likely having warfare only in a minority of cases, or war even being virtually non-existent (with interpersonal violence being more common). The dispute over this claim so far is found to stem, at least in part, from the varying definitions of war and the grouping together of nomadic with complex foragers. More significantly, the disagreement is due to different sampling and sourcing techniques of different researchers, the biggest divide being between self-selection/systematic sampling and first-best/second-best sources. Important potential warlike exceptions are also noted and discussed in the article from multiple angles (Jebel Sahaba, Nataruk, Aboriginal Australia, etc.), as are the discovered precursors and enabling conditions of war, such as the complexification of (nomadic) hunter-gatherer societies with the transition to settled life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the COVID-19 pandemic, female gender was a robust factor associated with mental health problems. This study aimed to investigate associations between pandemic-related risk factors, stressors, and clinical symptoms, with special reference to gender and possible differential gender effects. Participants were recruited from June to September 2020 through an online survey (ESTSS ADJUST study). Women (N = 796) and men (N = 796) were matched on age, education, income, and living community. Symptoms of depression (PHQ-9), anxiety (PHQ-4), adjustment disorder (ADNM-8), and PTSD (PC-PTSD-5) and different risk factors including pandemic-specific stressors (PaSS) were assessed. Separate network analyses for men and women were conducted and compared followed by a joint network analysis including gender. The networks of women and men did not differ in their structure (M = 0.14, p =.174) or strength of associations (S = 1.22, p =.126). Few relationships differed significantly between genders e.g., the connection between burden through work-related problems and anxiety was stronger in women. In the joint network, single factors were related to gender e.g., men felt more burdened through work-related problems and women through conflicts at home. We cannot imply causal relationships due to the cross-sectional data of our study. The findings cannot be generalized as the sample is not representative. Men and women seem to show comparable networks of risk factors, stressors, and clinical symptoms, although differences in individual connections and in levels of clinical symptoms and burdens were found. • Clinical symptoms are linked to a variety of stressors and risk factors. • Higher levels of depression, anxiety, adjustment disorder and PTSD in women. • Similar networks of pandemic-specific stressors, risk factors and clinical symptoms in men and women. • Women might be more exposed to risk factors but not more vulnerable to them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The essay is a comparative analysis of the function and meaning of food in three novels dealing with shipwrecks and outcasts: Golding's Lord of the Flies (1954), Tournier's Friday, or The Other Island (1967), Coetzee's Foe (1986). In Lord of the Flies food is reduced to two invariable, repetitive foods, fruit and pork, which represent two primary aspects of prehistoric human civilization, the gathering and hunting stages. Picking fruit is a benign activity, free of risks and immediate dangers, be it psychological discomfort. It is an Edenic pose, safe, with which, however, the boys will not be satisfied. We seem to be in the golden age of humanity, innocent, pure, ideal; a land of original promise populated by naive children. In the novel, fruits and fruit trees become a symbol of a Paradisiacal, non-conflictual age of human civilization, ideal and idealized, but insufficient for the species. However, the consumption of pork and, above all, the hunting of mammals will focus the attention of the protagonists, in a symbolic, antagonistic parallelism with the maintenance of fire. Jack discloses a natural inclination for the very act of hunting no matter what and wherefore. For him, meat, hunting are, in fact, simple pretexts, occasions or alibis for a disposition or a vocation specific to the human species, involuntarily stated by himself from the very beginning: "I thought I could kill". The fact that all the children eat the pork, including those who remain formally faithful to the ethical and rational principles of human civilization, including Ralph after Piggy has been killed by the same hunters from whom the meat comes, is one of the undercurrent themes of the novel: to what extent even the purest, most idealistic, most cerebral, most well-intentioned can remain completely outside the darkness, forced by context and adverse circumstances to survive. The answer to the dilemma is implicit. In Friday, or The Other Island food is an arch-presence of the internal history of the novel, in an agglomeration bordering on gastronomic Epicureanism, to the lucid expression of the danger of satiety. Basically, the author presents us with the nutritious abundance of the island, configuring it in the data of the plentiful, sufficient Eden. References to food are extremely varied, frequent and diversified (as should be the nutrition that the fetus receives in the mother's womb, through her...). Robinson's forager posture, reiterating the golden age of primitive mankind, will be firmly defined. But Robinson overcomes the stage of the primitive era and persistently emancipates himself in the position of the farmer. In the fifth chapter, the expression of a crisis already intervenes, the harvests become very poor due to the assiduous, untimely exploitation of the island by Robinson (the baby in the womb drains of strength the mother who shelters him). The excessively civilizing approach of the protagonist is the final point of the evolution of human culture and civilization in relation to the surrounding universe; it leads to its destruction through recklessness, intemperance. The saving solution is provided by Friday's intervention, which brings back natural harmony to the island, restores the ecological balance between man and nature. Robinson's entire evolution from hunter-gatherer to rapacious farmer is undone, Friday saving not only the island from destruction, but also the protagonist, the man as a species. In Foe food is not mentioned too often in the first part of the novel, and this is because, from the very beginning, we learn that it was not varied at all. Robinson has no explicit input in fishing, farming, gathering, cooking, as all these tasks essential to survival on the island are falling to Friday, sometimes helped by Susan. It is Friday who feeds and keeps both Robinson and Susan alive, not at all surprising. He reproduces in the diegesis the destiny of his race in relation to the white man. The overlooked supporting character is, in fact, much more. Overcoming the impasse of the creative act of the character Susan will be offered, presumably, by Friday, the one who knows best what to write, if only because he seems to have been the man who brought the water, the fire, the food. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study aims to evaluate whether hypofractionated radiotherapy (HYPOFRT) is a cost-effective strategy than conventional fractionated radiotherapy (CFRT) for early-stage glottic cancer (ESGC) in the Brazilian public and private health systems. Methods: Adopting the perspective of the Brazilian public and private health system as the payer, a Markov model with a lifetime horizon was built to delineate the health states for a cohort of 65-year-old men after with ESGC treated with either HYPOFRT or CFRT. Probabilities of controlled disease, local failure, distant metastasis, and death and utilities scores were extracted from randomized clinical trials. Costs were based on the public and private health system reimbursement values. Results: In the base case scenario, for both the public and private health systems, HYPOFRT dominated CFRT, being more effective and less costly, with a negative ICER of R$264.32 per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) (public health system) and a negative ICER of R$2870.69/ QALY (private health system). The ICER was most sensitive to the probability of local failure, controlled disease, and salvage treatment costs. For the probabilistic sensitivity analysis, the cost-effectiveness acceptability curve indicates that there is a probability of 99.99% of HYPOFRT being cost-effective considering a willingness-to-pay threshold of R$2,000 ($905.39) per QALY (public sector) and willingness-to-pay threshold of R$16,000 ($7243.10) per QALY (private sector). The results were robust in deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analyses. Conclusions: Considering a threshold of R$ 40,000 per QALY, HYPOFRT was cost-effective compared to CFRT for ESGC in the Brazilian public health system. The Net Monetary Benefit (NMB) is approximately 2,4 times (public health system) and 5,2 (private health system) higher for HYPOFRT than CFRT, which could open the opportunity of incorporating new technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Tibetan Plateau is known as the rooftop of the planet. Its hypoxic atmosphere in low oxygen partial pressure, extreme seasonal climate variation, and aridity poses severe challenges as harsh living environments for prehistoric human to occupy in such high-altitude niches. However, the Lake Qinghai is the largest lake on the Tibetan Plateau and the basin has rich water, mineral, and wild food resources, and prehistoric human occupied the Lake Qinghai Basin long before local farming was in practice. In this paper we present results of faunal assemblages associated with variable stone artifacts and pottery shards with bone collagen accelerator mass spectrometry radiocarbon (AMS 14C) dates from 3 new archaeological sites to investigate human occupation history in the southern Lake Qinghai Basin. The AMS 14C dating results reveal that the occupation occurs intermittently from the late Glacial to entire Holocene. Through compilation and synthesis of regional archaeological records, we found that prehistoric humans went through 3 phases of subsistence strategies: 1) hunting large and medium ungulates; 2) hunting medium ungulates; 3) foraging small size mammals with birds and fish diets. At the end, prehistoric humans increasingly adapted to forage and consume caprinaes species (goat), which represents a precursor of domestication or semi-domestication of wild animals in the Lake Qinghai Basin. We further attribute the utilization of caprinaes animal resources to the lower limbs of toe and phalange bones with low nutritious values to advanced social organization that implied prehistoric humans separated hunting activity from protein processing practices. Our investigation of zooarchaeology with reliable bone collagen AMS 14C dates could become a novel approach to study adaptation strategy and social structure changes of prehistorical Tibetan humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Adivasi in India and Assam are traditionally known as the first people or indigenous people since pre-historic (stone) age migrating in different periods of time from different regions. However, Adivasi were among the first group of people to arrive in India before any other communities such as the Aryans, Dravidians, and Mongolians etc. The schedule tribe’s status for the Adivasi in Assam which has been a longstanding struggle in India offers certain rights –based legal benefits in the form of political representation, reservation and socio-economic subsidies. The most common perception against granting Schedule Tribes status to the Adivasi in Assam is their migratory history, however, in the tea gardens the fact that they came into the state as indentured labourers to work and their contribution to the economy of the state of Assam has been substantial. The Adivasi of Assam, branded as the Tea Garden Tribes, generally prefer to be called as Tea Tribes. Embracing Adivasi nomenclature is a deliberate move on the part of the tea tribes to assert their tribal identity as also to represent their collective demand for indigenous rights, including the recognition for achieving the status of ‘Schedule Tribe’. The paper is a modest attempt to address this debate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We analyzed 196 haplotype sequences from a gene-rich region (250 kb) that includes Mc1r, a gene involved in coat color regulation, to gain insight into the evolution of coat color variation in subspecies of the house mouse Mus musculus. Phylogenetic networks revealed haplotype groups from the major subspecies of M. m. castaneus (CAS), M. m. domesticus (DOM), and M. m. musculus (MUS). Using haplotype sequences assigned to each of CAS and MUS through phylogenetic analysis, we proposed migration routes associated with prehistoric humans from west to east across Eurasia. Comparing nucleotide diversity among subspecies-specific haplotypes in different geographic areas showed a marked reduction during migration, particularly in MUS-derived haplotypes from Korea and Japan, suggesting intensive population bottlenecks during migration. We found that a C>T polymorphism at site 302 (c.302C>T) in the Mc1r coding region correlated with a darkening of dorsal fur color in both CAS and MUS. However, C/C homozygous mice in MUS showed marked variation in lightness, indicating the possibility of another genetic determinant that affects the lightness of dorsal fur color. Detailed sequence comparisons of haplotypes revealed that short fragments assigned to DOM were embedded in CAS-assigned fragments, indicating ancient introgression between subspecies. The estimated age of c.302C>T also supports the hypothesis that genetic interaction between subspecies occurred in ancient times. This suggests that the genome of M. musculus evolved through gene flow between subspecies over an extended period before the movement of the species in conjunction with prehistoric humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The inference of biological relations between individuals is fundamental to understanding past human societies. Caregiving, resource sharing and sexual behaviours are often mediated by biological kinship and yet the identification and interpretation of kin relationships in prehistoric human groups is difficult. In recent years, the advent of archaeogenetic techniques have offered a fresh approach, and when combined with more traditional osteological and interpretive archaeological methods, allows for improved interpretation of the burial practices, cultural behaviours, and societal stratification in ancient societies. Although archaeogenetic techniques are developing at pace, questions remain as to their accuracy, particularly when applied to the low coverage datasets that results from the sequencing of DNA derived from highly degraded ancient material. Results: The performance of six of the most commonly used kinship identifcation software methods was explored at a range of low and ultra low genome coverages. An asymmetrical response was observed across packages, with decreased genome coverage resulting in differences in both direction and degree of change of calculated kinship scores and thus pairwise relatedness estimates are dependant on both package used and genome coverage. Methods reliant upon genotype likelihoods methods (lcMLkin, NGSrelate and NGSremix) show a decreased level of prediction at coverage below 1x, although were consistent in the particular relationships identified at these coverages when compared to the pseudohaploid reliant methods tested (READ, the Kennett 2017 method and TKGWV2.0). The three pseudohaploid methods show predictive potential at coverages as low as 0.05x, although the accuracy of the relationships identified is questionable given the increase in the number of relationships identifIed at the low coverage (type I errors). Conclusion: Two pseudohaploid methods (READ and Kennett 2017) show relatively consistent inference of kin relationships at low coverage (0.5x), with READ only showing a significant performance drop off at ultralow coverages (< 0.2x). More generally, our results reveal asymmetrical kinship classifications in some software packages even at high coverages, highlighting the importance of applying multiple methods to authenticate kin relationships in ancient material, along with the continuing need to develop laboratory methods that maximise data output for downstream analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quantitative paleoclimate reconstructions can provide crucial climate context to test the hypothesis of climatic impact on prehistoric human activities. However, the climate change in Nenjiang River Basin is poorly understood due to the lack of reliable paleoclimate records. In this study, we report paired quantitative temperature (MAAT 0) and soil pH records based on the branched glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraether (brGDGTs) since the mid-Holocene in an alluvial sedimentary sequence near the Honghe Neolithic site in the middle reaches of Nenjiang River Basin. The result of MAAT 0 shows an obvious cooling interval at 6.5–4.0 kyr BP, which is consistent with paleotemperature reconstruction results in EASM margin. The strengthened westerlies may play a crucial role in shaping the cooling mid-Holocene in EASM margin. The soil pH variations yield a peak at 6.0–3.5 kyr BP, which is roughly consistent with other precipitation reconstruction from northeastern China. From the middle Neolithic to Bronze period, the prehistoric humans gradually settled in Nenjiang River Basin. Cool-wet climate during 6.0–4.0 kyr BP provide enough water & wildlife resources and broader space for human survival and thus prompted the settlement and cultivation development. With the deterioration of the climate since 4.0 kyr BP, the ancient inhabitants have to move southward along the Nenjiang River to lower reaches to find more suitable places for settlement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Northeastern Brazilian natural tank deposits stand out among the sedimentary deposits bearing megafauna remains in South America. João Cativo Paleontological Site (JCPS, Itapipoca, Ceará State, Brazil) is included in the Megafauna Valley and is one of the main sources of paleoecological data in that area. This study reveals trace fossils detected on Quaternary megafauna remains recovered from JCPS, allowing interpretation of paleosynecological interactions among the Quaternary megafauna taxa of the Brazilian Intertropical Region (RIB) and associated taxa. Only four of the 951 fossil specimens (cranial, post-cranial, osteoderms, and teeth) collected in the 1960s had biogenic signatures related to predation/scavenging and pre-historic human handling. Scratches on two rib fragments and a metapodial of Eremotherium laurillardi are attributed to the ichnospecies Machichnus fatimae and suggest a feeding interaction between a canid (probably Protocyon troglodytes) and the carcass of E. laurillardi. The anthropic mark corresponds to incisions made by a lithic weapon in the femur of a Palaeolama major, likely with the intent of slicing and sawing the carcass into smaller pieces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study aimed to understand how sex differences in the timing of hypertension onset contribute to early midlife risk for cognitive decline that may differ by sex and whether sex‐dependent advantages in normotensive populations are influenced by the presence of hypertension. One hundred and ninety‐five adults aged 45–55 from the New England Family Study underwent neuropsychological testing to assess attention, executive function, and memory. Physician‐diagnosed hypertension status was self‐reported via questionnaire. Mid‐adulthood hypertension was associated with worse performance on measures of attention and memory, but the cognitive domains impacted varied by sex. Hypertension was associated with only attention in men, whereas in women it was associated with attention and associative and working memory. Sex differences in midlife cognitive performance found in normotensive adults were attenuated in those with hypertension. Our results underscore the importance of accounting for sex when assessing the impact of hypertension on midlife cognition that could be indicative of later decline and risk for cognitive impairment and dementia, given hypertension is an independent risk factor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the post‐Recession era, U.S. fertility rates have continued to fall. It is unclear if these declines are driven by shifts in fertility goals or growing difficulty in achieving goals. In this paper, we construct synthetic cohorts of men and women to examine both cross‐cohort and within‐cohort changes in fertility goals using multiple cycles of the National Survey of Family Growth. Although more recent cohorts exhibit lower achieved fertility at younger ages than earlier cohorts at the same age, intended parity remains around two children, and intentions to remain childless rarely exceed 15 percent. There is weak evidence of a growing fertility gap in the early 30s, suggesting more recent cohorts will need considerable childbearing in the 30s and early 40s to "catch up" to earlier goals, yet low‐parity women in their early 40s are decreasingly likely to have unfulfilled fertility desires or intentions to have children. Low‐parity men in their early 40s, though, are increasingly likely to intend children. Declines in U.S. fertility thus seem to be largely driven not by changes in early‐life fertility goals so much as either a decreasing likelihood of achieving earlier goals or, perhaps, shifts in the preferred timing of fertility that depress period measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the 1980s, research into aggregation sites has focused on the material dimension of the archaeological record and has thus led to an incomplete view of the prehistoric reality. Early communities chose sites for many reasons. In this article, we explore the possibility that something as immaterial in nature as the acoustics of the sites may have influenced the selective choices made by the prehistoric peoples who created and used rock art in these meeting places. Employing the Impulse Response (IR) methodology, we systematically analyze the acoustic properties of Cuevas de la Araña, an aggregation site in eastern Spain with Levantine rock art, and 16 satellite sites in its surroundings. The results indicate that the acoustics of La Araña could have been important for creating affective engagement through musical performances carried out during the production and use of rock art, as well as for the choice of the site as a meeting place for Levantine populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the last few years, archaeoacoustic studies of rock art sites and landscapes have undergone significant growth as a result of renewed interest in the intangible aspects of the archaeological record. This article focuses on the acoustic study carried out in the rock art complex of Bacinete, Cádiz (Spain). After describing the archaeological site and its importance, a representative set of monaural and spatial IRs gathered onsite is thoroughly analysed to explore the hypothesis that the sonic component of the site played an important role in how prehistoric people interacted with it. Additionally, we briefly discuss the challenges of analysing the acoustics of open-air spaces following the recommendations of the ISO 3382-1 guidelines, a standard developed not for open-air spaces, but for room acoustics. The results obtained confirm the favourable acoustic conditions of the Bacinete main shelter for speech transmission. The different subjective acoustic impressions obtained in a somewhat similar shelter located nearby, Bacinete III, are also explained, alluding to a lesser degree of intimacy felt in the latter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapid sea-level rise between the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) and the mid-Holocene transformed the Southeast Asian coastal landscape, but the impact on human demography remains unclear. Here, we create a paleogeographic map, focusing on sea-level changes during the period spanning the LGM to the present-day and infer the human population history in Southeast and South Asia using 763 high-coverage whole-genome sequencing datasets from 59 ethnic groups. We show that sea-level rise, in particular meltwater pulses 1 A (MWP1A, ~14,500–14,000 years ago) and 1B (MWP1B, ~11,500–11,000 years ago), reduced land area by over 50% since the LGM, resulting in segregation of local human populations. Following periods of rapid sea-level rises, population pressure drove the migration of Malaysian Negritos into South Asia. Integrated paleogeographic and population genomic analysis demonstrates the earliest documented instance of forced human migration driven by sea-level rise. Population genomic analyses and palaeogeographical modelling combine to help infer the ancient migration of humans into South Asia from Sundaland, driven by rapid sea level rises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]