Michael Petraglia

Jan 15, 2025 | nature.com | Julio Mercader |Nicole Boivin |Tristan Carter |Siobhan Clarke |Stephen Hubbard |Jed O. Kaplan | +9 more

AbstractQuestions about when early members of the genus Homo adapted to extreme environments like deserts and rainforests have traditionally focused on Homo sapiens. Here, we present multidisciplinary evidence from Engaji Nanyori in Tanzania’s Oldupai Gorge, revealing that Homo erectus thrived in hyperarid landscapes one million years ago.

Apr 28, 2024 | nature.com | Junyi Ge |Song Xing |Keliang Zhao |Zhengtang Guo |Michael Petraglia |Shixia Yang

AbstractThe emergence of Homo sapiens in Eastern Asia is a topic of significant research interest. However, well-preserved human fossils in secure, dateable contexts in this region are extremely rare, and often the subject of intense debate owing to stratigraphic and geochronological problems. Tongtianyan cave, in Liujiang District of Liuzhou City, southern China is one of the most important fossils finds of H.

Oct 9, 2023 | dailybulletin.com.au | Michael Petraglia

Our species, Homo sapiens, migrated out of Africa multiple times – reaching the Levant and Arabia between 130,000 and 70,000 years ago, as exemplified by human fossils and archaeological sites found at various locations. Little is known, however, about the pathways of these migrations. In a study published today in Science Advances, we find the now inhospitable and hyper-arid zone of the southern Jordan Rift Valley was frequently lush and well-watered in the past.

Oct 4, 2023 | thetimes.com.au | Michael Petraglia

Our species, Homo sapiens, migrated out of Africa multiple times – reaching the Levant and Arabia between 130,000 and 70,000 years ago, as exemplified by human fossils and archaeological sites found at various locations. Little is known, however, about the pathways of these migrations. In a study[1] published today in Science Advances, we find the now inhospitable and hyper-arid zone of the southern Jordan Rift Valley was frequently lush and well-watered in the past.

Jun 8, 2023 | dailybulletin.com.au | Michael Petraglia

Fri Jun 9 Written by Michael Petraglia, Director, Australian Research Centre for Human Evolution, Griffith University On September 13 2013, speleologists Rick Hunter and Steven Tucker descended deep into South Africa’s Rising Star cave system and discovered the first evidence of an extraordinary assemblage of hominin fossils. To date, the remains of more than 15 individuals belonging to a previously unknown species of extinct human, dubbed Homo naledi, have been found in the cave.