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Ancient ruin appearing as a set of eight columns atop several steps with more columns visible to the right and left sides of the structure, which lacks a roof and the blue sky can be seen through and around the ruin
Archeology

As both a scientific and humanistic pursuit, archeology can help identify and explore cultural processes that have shaped human behavior throughout history by reconstructing past ways of life.

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gray stone statue of an apparent military commander or ruler viewed from the waist up against a partly cloudy sky
Did Lead Cause the Downfall of the Roman Empire?

Archeological findings support the idea that lead toxicity produced behavioral changes in Ancient Rome’s population, causing the Empire to collapse.

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human skull remains, viewed from the right side of the skull with the left side still buried in brown-red dirt
Smallpox found in skeletons of Vikings

Genomic evidence confirms that Vikings came into contact with the smallpox virus during travels to Asia and/or Africa, and then brought back the virus to Europe as early as 600 CE.

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illustration of a "cave person", viewed from behind from the perspective of the inside of a cave, with the person silhouetted against the pink and orange sunrise or sunset visible from the cave opening. The person is holding a stone weapon over their right shoulder
Some Neandertal genes in people today may protect against severe COVID-19

For each copy of the Neandertal haplotype inherited on chromosome 12, the risk of needing intensive care from the novel coronavirus fell about 22 percent.

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