archaeology

Cahokia: America’s Ancient Metropolis

The ancient Native American city of Cahokia supported an estimated 20,000 residents at its height and featured scores of earthen mounds. However, by 1400 it was abandoned.

History of the Plague

These articles look at the historical sources that may help to trace the spread of the Plague, caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, considering how it spread from East Asia to other parts of the world.

Mesolithic-Neolithic Transformations: The Populations of the Danube Gorges

In the Danube Gorges that lie between Serbia and Romania, several archeological sites critical for the understanding of the transitions between the Mesolithic and Neolithic in southeastern Europe have been discovered. In particular, several preserved burial sites, containing around 500 individual skeletal remains, offer a unique opportunity to examine the life- and deathways of these communities. Through an analysis of skeletal remains and patterns of interment, this paper discusses questions of local versus non-local identities, as well as changes in diet throughout the Neolithization. One site in particular, Lepenski Vir, is the basis for research into the paleopathology of local populations.