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Artifacts
Elephant Bone Tool from Boxgrove Dates to Nearly 500,000 Years Ago
Researchers have identified a shaped elephant or mammoth bone fragment from Boxgrove in southern England as a reusable tool for retouching stone handaxes. The artifact, analyzed with 3D scanning and microscopy, is described as the oldest known elephant-bone tool in Europe.
Sep 8, 2026
Artifacts
DNA Recovered From Historic Parchment Without Damaging Manuscripts
Researchers tested a dry-brush technique on 91 manuscripts at Duke University, recovering cellular material for genetic analysis without visibly harming the documents. The method could help investigate manuscript origins, trade, livestock history and agricultural change across roughly 1,300 years of records.
Sep 8, 2026