Recent study of ancient DNA obtained from 2000-year-old remains of a boy from Ballito Bay in KwaZulu-Natal, East Republic of South Africa, indicates that the split between modern humans and earlier human groups occurred between 350000-260000 years ago – earlier than previously thought.
An innovative technique known as accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) allowed to date rock art at 14 sites in three regions of Southern Africa to 5723-4420 cal BP, making them the oldest to date in the area.
Archaeologists continuing the excavations at the Denisova Cave in the Altai region of Russian Federation, discovered Palaeolithic jewellery made out of ostrich eggshells between 45000-50000 years ago.
Scientist using 3-D imaging diagnosed an aggressive type of cancer called osteosarcoma in a foot bone belonging to a human relative who died in Swartkrans Cave in South Africa. The remains are dated to between 1.6-1.8 million years ago.