logo
Cave discovery of 6,000-year-old hunter's toolkit offers rare glimpse into earliest lives in West Texas

Cave discovery of 6,000-year-old hunter's toolkit offers rare glimpse into earliest lives in West Texas

Yahoo04-04-2025
MARFA, Texas – Archaeologists have unearthed a treasure trove of artifacts frozen in time deep within a West Texas cave, including potentially the oldest intact weapon system ever found in North America.
The remarkable discovery within the San Esteban Rockshelter, south of Marfa, is now rewriting the story of the Big Bend region's earliest inhabitants.
For the past six years, archaeologists from the Center for Big Bend Studies and the Odyssey Archaeological Research Fund at the University of Kansas have been working together to study area sites that may have harbored the earliest evidence of humans in the region.
Deer Hunter Stumbles Upon Rare Mammoth Tusk In Rugged Terrain Of West Texas
One of the most notable finds was a preserved ancient hunting kit that was found in pristine condition. While no complete components were found, among the weaponry were broken dart nock ends, a straight-flying boomerang, stone-tipped and hardwood foreshafts, and a partial atlatl.
Researchers believe the discovery suggests an ancient hunter paused within the cave, built a small fire, repaired their essential tools and left behind the mundane items of everyday life that waited thousands of years to be discovered.
Ancient Tiny Shark Species Discovered At Mammoth Cave National Park
"If it really is a contemporaneous kit, it's a pretty monumental finding," CBBS Director Bryon Schroeder told Texas Parks and Wildlife. "We can use the wood to reconstruct the environment and learn more about the amount of time they spent working on tools."
Schroeder added that this new knowledge can be applied to other archaeological sites in the Big Bend.
"We get these incredible snapshots of life, vignettes of how they lived, what the environment was and how they responded to it," he said.
Life-sized Murals Discovered On Walls Of Pompeii Home Buried By Volcanic Eruption Nearly 2,000 Years Ago
Caves were likely a potential cultural significance of Indigenous American traditions, where hunted prey could be reincarnated, according to CBBS assistant professor Devin Pettigrew.
"We aren't sure to what extent the deposit of these broken components in the rock shelter had a symbolic or spiritual purpose," CBBS Assistant Professor Devin Pettigrew noted to Texas Parks and Wildlife. "Interpretations like this, based on more recent cultures, are more difficult the further back in time you go."
Beyond the hunting implements, archaeologists also unearthed human feces – which can provide valuable dietary and health information – and a remarkably preserved folded pronghorn hide, Texas Parks and Wildlife reports.
"We just sat there and stared at it in wonder," Schroeder said of tanned hide discovery. "That's a moment in time. It's akin to holding dish gloves that somebody put over the sink after doing the dishes. Somebody folded that hide up and sat that right on top of this rock. And nobody touched it for 6,000 years."Original article source: Cave discovery of 6,000-year-old hunter's toolkit offers rare glimpse into earliest lives in West Texas
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

When is the next full 'buck moon'? What to know about celestial events in July
When is the next full 'buck moon'? What to know about celestial events in July

Yahoo

time03-07-2025

  • Yahoo

When is the next full 'buck moon'? What to know about celestial events in July

There are 12 full moons in 2025, and July will bring one that's called the 'Buck Moon.' A full moon occurs — simply put — when the Earth falls between the sun and the moon, which results in the visible portion of the moon being lit by the sun. If you're a regular sky gazer, keeping track of celestial movements, or just curious this month, here is what you need to know about upcoming lunar activity and other planetary sightings in July. The next Buck Moon will arrive on Thursday, July 10, and is expected to be at peak illumination at 4:37 p.m. Eastern time, according to The Old Farmer's Almanac. Derived from Indigenous American, European and colonial American influences, moon names signify a connection to the natural world. In July, as part of a yearly renewal process, male deer grow new antlers at peak capacity after having shed the old horns at the end of the rutting season — hence lending the name Buck Moon. Some other names for the July full moon are Thunder Moon, due to the thunderstorms, and Halfway Summer Moon. This moon is also called Berry Moon, Salmon Moon and Feather Moulting Moon. Middletown residents and others in the mid-Hudson Valley can spot the rise of the moon above the horizon at 8:58 p.m. by looking in the southeast direction. The moon will set at 4:50 a.m., southwestward. If you want to see surface details, you will need binoculars or a telescope. You can also use a digital camera. More: NYSEG seeks state approval for steep rate hikes for gas, electric customers Long-range forecast by Climate Prediction Center shows normal or leaning-above-normal temperatures and precipitation levels for July 9-15. If you are interested in locating other planets and constellations in the sky in July, here's what NASA recommends: Jupiter is expected in the second half of the month in the east during the hour before dawn — positioned low in the sky, rising higher each day. Mars is expected to appear all month in the west for a couple of hours, starting at the end of the twilight period — positioned approximately 20 degrees over the horizon line. Mercury makes a brief appearance in the first week of July in the western skies after dusk for up to 45 minutes — positioned 10 degrees above the horizon line or lower. Saturn will be visible all month at midnight — positioned rising high in the southern sky by sunrise. Venus will rise all month in early morning in the east in the hours before dawn. Aquila Constellation, the eagle-shaped cluster of stars, will appear all of July in the east in the first half of the night, anchored by its brightest star, Altair. This article originally appeared on Times Herald-Record: When to see the Buck Moon and other July events in mid-Hudson Valley

Genomes from ancient Maya people reveal collapse of population and civilization 1,200 years ago
Genomes from ancient Maya people reveal collapse of population and civilization 1,200 years ago

Yahoo

time29-05-2025

  • Yahoo

Genomes from ancient Maya people reveal collapse of population and civilization 1,200 years ago

When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Skeletons buried near the ancient Maya city of Copán have revealed new clues about the collapse, but not total decimation, of the Maya civilization. A study of the genomes of seven people from the Classic Maya period (A.D. 250 to 900) of Copán in what is now western Honduras showed that the population dramatically shrank around 1,200 years ago. "Our findings indicate a decline in population size" among the Maya, study co-author Shigeki Nakagome, an assistant professor of genomic medicine at Trinity College Dublin, told Live Science in an email, which "aligns with a scenario proposed by archaeologists in which the population decreased but did not become entirely extinct." Nakagome and colleagues published their findings Wednesday (May 28) in the journal Current Biology. In their study, the researchers investigated the hypothesis that outsiders assumed power at Copán in the late 420s and explored how interactions between locals and non-locals created social and cultural change at this important Maya center. Copán was a major capital located at the extreme southeast of the Classic Maya civilization, functioning as a kind of crossroads between Central and South America. The royal dynasty that ruled for four centuries was established at Copán in A.D. 426 by a man known as K'inich Yax K'uk' Mo', who was an outsider according to inscriptions. Previous genomic and isotopic analyses of skeletons from other Maya sites have suggested that migration and gene flow were common, but the nature of that gene mixing at Copán had never before been investigated. Based on their sequencing of genomes of seven people buried at Copán, the researchers discovered that the people all had different maternal lineages. Two males, however, belonged to the same Y-chromosome lineage and were buried together: one male in a wealthy burial was a possible dynastic ruler and the other male was a potential sacrifice. But the men were not closely related. "Even though the dynastic ruler and the sacrificed individual share the same Y-chromosome haplogroup," Nakagome said, "we did not find any kinship." The lineage the men share is common among present-day Indigenous American populations, he said. Related: Secret of ancient Maya blue pigment revealed from cracks and clues on a dozen bowls from Chichén Itzá By comparing the seven ancient genomes to previously sequenced genomes across Siberia and the Americas, the researchers found strong evidence of genetic continuity in the Maya region from the Late Archaic period, roughly 3700 B.C. to 1000 B.C., to the present day. These genetic data suggest "the enduring persistence of local ancestry in the Maya region," the researchers wrote in the study. They also found that during the Classic Maya period, there was an influx of people with highland Mexican ancestry, possibly from other Maya sites such as Chichén Itzá. These "outsiders" — perhaps part of the ruling dynasty of Copán — mixed with the locals, creating a population with two main ancestries. RELATED STORIES —'Trash' found deep inside a Mexican cave turns out to be 500-year-old artifacts from a little-known culture —'Stunning' discovery reveals how the Maya rose up 4,000 years ago —Mysterious Maya underground structure unearthed in Mexico Delving further into the genomic data of the seven individuals, the researchers were able to estimate the size of the Maya population at specific points in time. According to their model, "the population in the Maya region appears to have experienced significant growth in effective size, reaching approximately 19,000 [people]" around A.D. 730, they wrote. The increase may be related to the advent of maize agriculture, which could have supported a larger population. Then, the population size began to decline around A.D. 750, "coinciding with the onset of the collapse of Classic Maya civilization," they wrote. Although the population dramatically dwindled with the collapse of the Maya political system, the researchers ultimately found support in their analysis for population persistence through time. "The genetic continuity observed in our study supports the idea that the population was not replaced by another group after the collapse." The genomes of the more than 7 million present-day Maya are closely related to the genomes of ancient Maya.

Phathom Pharmaceuticals Appoints Ted Schroeder to its Board of Directors
Phathom Pharmaceuticals Appoints Ted Schroeder to its Board of Directors

Yahoo

time16-04-2025

  • Yahoo

Phathom Pharmaceuticals Appoints Ted Schroeder to its Board of Directors

FLORHAM PARK, N.J., April 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Phathom Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: PHAT), a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing novel treatments for gastrointestinal diseases, today announced the appointment of Ted Schroeder to its Board of Directors. Mr. Schroeder brings more than three decades of experience leading innovative biopharmaceutical companies and has a strong track record of building and scaling commercial organizations, bringing new therapies to market, and successfully guiding companies through key business milestones and strategic transactions. 'We are pleased to welcome Ted to the Phathom Board during a pivotal period for the company,' said Michael Cola, Chairman of the Board, Phathom Pharmaceuticals. 'Ted is a seasoned biopharma leader with a strong history of developing and commercializing innovative treatments, scaling growth-focused organizations, and creating shareholder value. As Phathom continues to unlock the full potential of VOQUEZNA®, Ted's deep operational and commercial expertise will be an important asset. We look forward to his insights and partnership as we work to accelerate our commercial momentum and deliver our first-in-class therapies to patients in need.' About Ted SchroederMr. Schroeder served as Chief Executive Officer of Nabriva Therapeutics from 2018 to 2023 and as a director until March 2025, following Nabriva's acquisition of Zavante Therapeutics, where he was co-founder, President, and CEO. Prior to that, he co-founded Cadence Pharmaceuticals and served as President and CEO until its $1.4 billion acquisition by Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals in 2014. Earlier in his career, he held senior leadership roles at Elan Pharmaceuticals, Dura Pharmaceuticals, and Bristol-Myers Squibb. Mr. Schroeder currently serves on the Board of Directors of Cidara Therapeutics (Nasdaq: CDTX) and has previously served on the boards of several public and private life sciences companies, including Otonomy, Collegium Pharmaceutical, Hyperion Therapeutics, Incline Therapeutics, and Trius Therapeutics. He is also a former Chairman of Biocom California and the Antimicrobials Working Group. In 2014, he was named EY Entrepreneur of the Year for the San Diego region and was recognized as a national finalist. He holds a B.S. in Management from Rutgers University. About Phathom Pharmaceuticals, Pharmaceuticals is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of novel treatments for gastrointestinal diseases. Phathom has in-licensed the exclusive rights to vonoprazan, a first-in-class potassium-competitive acid blocker (PCAB) that is currently marketed in the United States as VOQUEZNA® (vonoprazan) tablets for the relief of heartburn associated with Non-Erosive GERD in adults, the healing and maintenance of healing of Erosive GERD in adults and relief of associated heartburn, in addition to VOQUEZNA® TRIPLE PAK® (vonoprazan tablets, amoxicillin capsules, clarithromycin tablets) and VOQUEZNA® DUAL PAK® (vonoprazan tablets, amoxicillin capsules) for the treatment of H. pylori infection in adults. For more information about Phathom, visit the company's website at follow on LinkedIn and X. MEDIA CONTACTNick Benedetto1-877-742-8466media@ INVESTOR CONTACTEric Sciorilli1-877-742-8466ir@ © 2025 Phathom Pharmaceuticals. All rights VOQUEZNA DUAL PAK, VOQUEZNA TRIPLE PAK, Phathom Pharmaceuticals, and their respective logos are registered trademarks of Phathom Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store