Polynesian DNA Found in Ancient Native American Bones
More evidence that ancient people were better seafarers than mainstream academics have given them credit for. The latest study shows
Read more
South American Archaeology News
The latest news, updates, and discoveries of the archaeology of South America including the Inca, Moche, Nazca and more.
Ancient Peruvian skulls unearthed in Florida
Recent research has hinted at an ancient Peruvian presence in the southeastern U.S. including Peruvian DNA showing up in Native
Read more
Ancient popcorn discovered in Peru
Some of the oldest known corn cobs, husks, stalks and tassels, dating from 6,700 to 3,000 years ago were discovered
Read more
Carvings in Land Attest to Amazon’s Lost World
The earliest explorers of the Amazon recorded that it was filled with villages and towns. After European diseases swept the
Read more
Caral, oldest new world city, in new video
Recent research shows that the earliest phase of Andean Civilization took place simultaneously with earliest stages of civilization on the
Read morePeru: Tomb believed to be older than “Señor de Sipan” found in northern Peru
A team of archaeologists, led by Walter Alva, have discovered the wooden tomb of another member of the Mochica culture’s elite – older than the “Señor de Sipan” (Lord of Sipan).
These findings belong to the Moche civilization, which ruled the northern coast of Peru from the time of Christ to 800 AD, centuries prior to the Incas.
Read moreEarliest-known Evidence of Peanut, Cotton and Squash Farming Found
Anthropologists working on the slopes of the Andes in northern Peru have discovered the earliest-known evidence of peanut, cotton and squash farming dating back 5,000 to 9,000 years. Their findings provide long-sought-after evidence that some of the early development of agriculture in the New World took place at farming settlements in the Andes.
Read moreDecapitated Man Found in Peru Tomb With Ceramic “Replacement” Head
A headless skeleton found in a Peruvian tomb is adding new wrinkles to the debate over human sacrifice in the ancient Andes. The decapitated body was found in the Nasca region, named for the ancient civilization that thrived in southern Peru from A.D. 1 to 750.
Read morePolynesians beat Columbus to the Americas
Prehistoric Polynesians beat Europeans to the Americas, according to a new analysis of chicken bones.
The work provides the first firm evidence that ancient Polynesians voyaged as far as South America, and also strongly suggests that they were responsible for the introduction of chickens to the continent – a question that has been hotly debated for more than 30 years.
Read moreEarliest Known American Settlers Harvested Seaweed
People living in the earliest known settlement in the Americas harvested seaweed and other marine plants from a coastline more than 50 miles (80 kilometers) away, new research shows. Scientists discovered several species of seaweed and marine algae dating back more than 14,000 years at the Monte Verde archaeological site in south-central Chile.
Read more
Recently Excavated Headless Skeleton Expands Understanding Of Ancient Andean Rituals
Images of disembodied heads are widespread in the art of Nasca, a culture based on the southern coast of Peru from AD 1 to AD 750. But despite this evidence and large numbers of trophy heads in the region’s archaeological record, only eight headless bodies have been recovered with evidence of decapitation, explains Christina A. Conlee (Texas State University). Conlee’s analysis of a newly excavated headless body from the site of La Tiza provides important new data on decapitation and its relationship to ancient ideas of death and regeneration.
Read moreRare skeleton, jewels found in Bolivia pyramid
Archeologists have uncovered the 1,300-year-old skeleton of a ruler or priest of the ancient Tiwanaku civilization together with precious jewels inside a much-looted pyramid in western Bolivia.
Read more