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Human Origins

Ancient Origins presents how human origins are explained through three different perspectives: a) science and scientific evidence, b) religions and creation stories and c) folklore and mythology.

Evolution of man graphic.

New Science Addresses a Noisy Problem with the Evolutionary Hypothesis

There are a lot of gaps in the evidence for the Theory of Evolution, and some things don’t quite add up yet. There are enough of these shortcomings that many argue it should probably be downgraded to...
Origins of the First Americans (Video)

Origins of the First Americans (Video)

In the heart of Alaska's Tanana River Valley, an extraordinary discovery sheds light on the origins of the first Americans. Two infants - Sunrise Girl-Child and Dawn Twilight Girl - were unearthed at...
Homo heidelbergensis at the Rama 9 Museum in Bangkok, Thailand.

10 Mysterious Human Species Most People Don’t Know Existed

Modern humans, Homo sapiens, are now the only surviving member of the Homo genus. It is almost inconceivable to us that we walked alongside other human species, but as the science of archaeology has...
A blue eye close up

Mysterious Genetic Origins of Blue Eyes in Ancient Humans (Video)

The genetic origins of blue eyes in ancient humans reveal a complex history of gene variation and inheritance. Contrary to previous beliefs, Neanderthals possessed genetic diversity related to...
Painting of Guru Nanak seated beneath a tree with his two sons (Sri Chand and Lakhmi Das), Bhai Mardana, Bhai Bala, and possibly Bhai Lehna (future Guru Angad).

What Are the Origins of the Sikh Religion? (Video)

Sikhism , founded in the late 15th century, is rooted in the teachings of Guru Nanak, born in the Punjab region of India. Nanak was born into a Hindu family but showed an interest in exploring...
Seven Lucky Gods of Japanese mythology.

The Shichifukujin: Japan's Seven Lucky Gods

The Seven Lucky Gods, or Fukujin, are a revered group of deities in Japanese culture, each symbolizing various aspects of fortune and prosperity. Originating from a mix of Buddhist, Shinto, and...
Reconstruction of Romito 2, a 16-year-old teenager with a form of dwarfism who lived 11,000 years ago in southern Italy.

Ice Age Teens Achieved Puberty at the Same Age as Modern Teens

It turns out the kids might be all right, contrary to what some people have been saying. A brilliant new study has revealed fascinating insights into the adolescent development of Ice Age teenagers...
1499 depiction of Aztec ritual sacrifice.

Blood for the Gods: Ritual Sacrifice in the Ancient World

Since the dawn of humanity, countless civilizations have engaged in ritual sacrifice. Often, these sacrifices involved other humans, and were so common they were considered a normal aspect of life...
Feeling Thirsty: What Was The First Beverage? (Video)

Feeling Thirsty: What Was The First Beverage? (Video)

The history of beverages reveals a fascinating evolution from our earliest days when humans primarily consumed water. Despite the modern variety of drinks, milk and beer stand out as two of the...
The Forgotten Ritual of Sin Eating: Exploring Centuries of Tradition in Britain

The Forgotten Ritual of Sin Eating: Exploring Centuries of Tradition in Britain

Throughout the centuries, the British Isles have been home to a wide array of customs, traditions, and beliefs that reflect the intricate tapestry of our cultural history. One such tradition that has...
Egyptian Creation Myth and the Gods of Chaos: Life From Darkness

Egyptian Creation Myth and the Gods of Chaos: Life From Darkness

The Ancient Egyptians were one of the world’s earliest civilizations and left an incredible mark on the whole of humanity. Having endured in history for millennia , they never strayed too far from...
Why Ancient Human Genetics Trump Modern Athletes (Video)

Why Ancient Human Genetics Trump Modern Athletes (Video)

Ancient human genetics reveal that early humans, including Neanderthals, were far more athletic than modern humans. These ancestors were not primitive but exhibited superior physical abilities due to...
Excavation work at the Ghost Cave site.	Source: Maria D. Guillén / IPHES-CERCA

850,000-Year-Old Remains of Archaic Human Unearthed at Atapuerca, Spain

Recent excavations at the famed archaeological site of Atapuerca (Sierra de Atapuerca) in northern Spain’s Burgos province unearthed the skeletal remains of an individual who belonged to an archaic...
Representation of consciousness. 		Source: lidiia/Adobe Stock

Why Consciousness May Have Evolved To Benefit Society Rather Than Individuals

Peter W Halligan et al. /The Conversation Why did the experience of consciousness evolve from our underlying brain physiology? Despite being a vibrant area of neuroscience, current research on...
The god of Chaos in Greek mythology was depicted as both a goddess and a place.	Source: RolffImages / Adobe Stock

Literary Legends: Mythology and Folklore Across Civilizations

The narratives of ancient civilizations are stitched together with ethereal threads of mythology and folklore. Be they tethered in fact or complete fiction, these tales, handed down through...
Human brain Anatomical Model illustration.	Source: paul/Adobe Stock

New Study Defies Link Between Brain Size and Intelligence in Nature

For many years, scientists have adhered to a straightforward principle: larger bodies mean larger brains. A fascinating new study has challenged this idea, indicating that brain size can only...
Brotherhood of Pythagoras

Brotherhood of Pythagoras: Beyond Math, Insights into Ancient Wisdom

Anyone who so much as glanced at a math book in high school will know the name, Pythagoras. Most will be familiar with the fact that he was a renowned mathematician from ancient Greece, and many will...
A second-century Roman sarcophagus shows the mythology and symbolism of the Orphic and Dionysiac Mystery schools.

What are the Orphic Mysteries?

The Orphic Mysteries are just as intriguing as they sound. They’re a set of religious beliefs and practices centered around the mythical figure of Orpheus and rooted in ancient Greek mythology...
: Controversial reporter, Graham Hancock. 	Source: Netflix

"Ancient Apocalypse" Filming Halted Amid Native American Outcry

Graham Hancock, the British host of the hit Netflix series "Ancient Apocalypse," has canceled plans to film a new season in the United States following significant backlash from Native American...
Drop of water

Study Shows Fresh Water Reached Earth from Space Four Billion Years Ago

A chemical analysis of rare and ancient zircon crystals taken from the remote and foreboding Jack Hills of Western Australia is causing scientists to reevaluate their assumptions about when the first...
The Cradle of Humankind visitors’ complex in Maropeng, South Africa

Human Origins: Beyond a Single Cradle of Humankind

The quest to uncover the cradle of humankind has been a winding journey, marked by unexpected discoveries and shifting paradigms. Early efforts by paleontologists to locate the origins of humanity...
Forensic facial reconstruction of a Cro-Magnon man.  Source: Cicero Moraes/CC BY-SA 4.0

The Enigmatic Origins of Cro Magnon: Europe's First Humans (Video)

Cro Magnon Man , a robust and powerful hominid of the Upper Paleolithic era, emerges from the shadows of prehistory, leaving behind skeletal remains primarily found in southern France. Classified as...
A Paracas elongated skull and an artist’s impression based on a digital reconstruction. Source: Marcia Moore / Ciamar Studio

How DNA Testing Revealed European Ancestry in Elongated Paracas Skulls

The elongated skulls of Paracas in Peru caused a stir in 2014 when a geneticist that carried out preliminary DNA testing reported that they have mitochondrial DNA “with mutations unknown in any human...
Mountain River in East Siberia. Source: zhaubasar/Adobe Stock

Denisovan Artifacts Discovered in Siberian Ice (Video)

Archaeologists excavating the Siberian permafrost have uncovered a wealth of artifacts, shedding light on the enigmatic Denisovans and their ancient predecessors. Among the finds are finely crafted...

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