2025 in bioarchaeology

This page lists significant events in 2025 in bioarchaeology.

Finds

February

• 18 – A study of Viking Age skulls from Sweden revealed widespread signs of disease and health problems as sinus and ear infections, osteoarthritis among individuals who lived between approximately 20 and 60 years of age. ^{[1] [2]}
• 20 – Well-preserved remains of a bog body recovered from peatland deposits are likely to be a 17- to 22-year-old female in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. ^{[3] [4]}

May

• 27 – A 2,000-year-old double burial of fraternal twins in Roman-era Croatia may have been influenced by lead poisoning, as indicated by signs of metabolic diseases like scurvy and rickets in their remains, suggesting maternal malnutrition or environmental lead exposure during pregnancy. ^{[5] [6] [7]}

June

• 2 – Genetic analysis of early medieval Polish remains, including possible Piast dynasty members, indicates that Poland's first rulers might had mixed ancestry with links to northern Germany, Denmark, and the Baltics, challenging the idea of a purely Slavic origin. ^{[8] [9]}

• 5 – A 6,200-year-old skull of a teenage girl which shows evidence of intentional cranial deformation and a fatal perimortem skull fracture was discovered at the Chega Sofla site in Iran. ^{[10] [11]}

• 12 – Recent analysis of 2-million-year-old fossilized teeth from early human ancestors reveals uniform, circular, and shallow pits in the enamel, suggesting these features are genetically inherited rather than caused by disease or environmental stress, potentially serving as evolutionary markers for identifying specific hominin lineages. ^{[12] [13]}

July

• 2 – Remains of 17 individuals including men, women, and children, who were interred in bundled form on baskets or mats in a pre-Hispanic mortuary cave were discovered in the desert mountains of Coahuila, Mexico. ^{[14] [15]}

• 17 – A 3,800-year-old Middle Bronze Age kurgan along with several grave goods, believed to be the burial site of a warrior was discovered in the Ceyranchol plain, near the village of Yovshanlidere, Azerbaijan. ^{[16] [17] [18]}

August

• 1 – A 1000-year-old Pre-Columbian Inca grave with the remains of an individual accompanied by four clay vessels and three pumpkin-shell artifacts were found in Lima, Peru. ^{[19] [20]}
• 28 – Three prehistoric Maya children's teeth (aged approximately 8–10 years) were found to feature jade inlays, a dental modification previously documented only in adolescents and adults. ^{[21] [22]}
• 30 – A mortuary structure referred to as the "House of the Dead" or "Spiritual House" with the remains of 20 individuals were discovered at Çatalhöyük, Turkey. ^{[23] [24]}

November

• 6 – Confirmation of the tomb of Saint Hilarion and with 62 bone fragments belonging to an elderly male at the site of his monastery in the Suzdal Kremlin. ^[25]
• 27 – Discovery of an Archaic-Era tomb dated to the second half of the sevenh century BCE was announced near Lake Kifisida (ancient Kopaida), Greece. The site includes the burial of the so-called the “Lady with the Inverted Diadem” that appears to belong to a young noblewoman, and has been described as an elite grave due to the luxury of the grave goods and the rich funerary assemblage. ^{[26] [27] [28]}
• 30 – Discovery of a 1300-year-old warrior tomb with grave goods, believed to belong to a high-status warrior of the Pannonian Avars was announced near Székesfehérvár in Hungary. The burial is dated to approximately 670–690 CE, placing it within the Middle Avar period. ^{[29] [30]}

December

12 – Discovery of multiple burial pits containing the skeletal remains of at least 30 individuals, predominantly adult males during excavation work was announced in Grenoble, southeastern France. ^{[31] [32]}

28 – Grave evidence discovered near Duczów Mały, Poland, and linked to actions by the Red Army included the remains of a woman whose skeleton showed evidence of fatal trauma to the skull. ^[33]

Events

August

• 27 – France returned three colonial-era human skulls to Madagascar, one of which is believed to belong to King Toera, a monarch of the Sakalava people who was beheaded by French troops in 1897 during a colonial campaign. ^{[34] [35]}

See also

• 2025 in archaeology

References

1. Bertilsson, Carolina; Borg, Eva; Vretemark, Maria; Lund, Henrik (2025-02-18). "Findings from computed tomography examinations of Viking age skulls". BDJ Open. 11 (1): 18. doi:10.1038/s41405-025-00309-9. ISSN   2056-807X.
2. Milligan, Mark (2025-02-21). "Viking Age skulls reveal widespread disease". HeritageDaily - Archaeology News. Retrieved 2026-01-06.
3. "Bellaghy bog body: Ancient remains of woman may have been sacrificial". www.bbc.com. 2025-02-20. Retrieved 2026-01-06.
4. "Further research suggests ancient human remains found in Bellaghy likely to be female". www.nationalmuseumsni.org. Retrieved 2026-01-06.
5. "Scientists may have solved 2,000-year-old mystery death of Roman baby twins". The Independent. 2025-05-29. Retrieved 2025-06-20.
6. Sagar, Soumya (2025-05-27). "Infant twins buried together in Roman Croatia may have died from lead poisoning". Live Science. Retrieved 2025-06-20.
7. Osterholtz, Anna; Novak, Mario; Carić, Mario; Paraman, Lujana (2025-04-01). "Death and burial of a set of fraternal twins from Tragurium: An osteobiographical approach" . Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports. 62 105071. Bibcode:2025JArSR..62j5071O. doi:10.1016/j.jasrep.2025.105071. ISSN   2352-409X.
8. "Scientists say first Polish royals may have been from Scotland". tvpworld.com (in Polish). Retrieved 2025-06-20.
9. Radley, Dario (2025-06-15). "DNA reveals Poland's first kings may have Scottish origins, challenging founding myths". Archaeology News Online Magazine. Retrieved 2025-06-20.
10. Killgrove, Kristina (2025-06-05). "'Cone-headed' skull from Iran was bashed in 6,200 years ago, but no one knows why". Live Science. Retrieved 2025-06-20.
11. Yirka, Bob. "Teen girl from 6,200 years ago with cone-shaped skull unearthed in Iran". phys.org. Retrieved 2025-06-20.
12. Killgrove, Kristina (2025-06-12). "Strange pits on 'hobbit' teeth and other archaic humans could reveal hidden links in our family tree". Live Science. Retrieved 2025-06-20.
13. Towle, Ian; O'Hara, Mackie C.; Leece, A. B.; Herries, Andy I. R.; Adjei, Afua; Guatelli-Steinberg, Debbie; Martínez de Pinillos, Marina; Modesto-Mata, Mario; Thiebaut, Arthur; Hernando, Raquel; Irish, Joel D.; Guy, Franck; Boisserie, Jean-Renaud; Hlusko, Leslea J. (2025-07-01). "Uniform, circular, and shallow enamel pitting in hominins: Prevalence, morphological associations, and potential taxonomic significance". Journal of Human Evolution. 204 103703. Bibcode:2025JHumE.20403703T. doi: 10.1016/j.jhevol.2025.103703 . ISSN   0047-2484. PMID   40479884.
14. "50 cm. shaft leads archaeologist to hidden cave and secret burial site | The Jerusalem Post". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. 2025-07-05. Retrieved 2025-07-08.
15. Milligan, Mark (2025-07-02). "Ancient mortuary cave found hidden within desert mountains". HeritageDaily - Archaeology News. Retrieved 2025-07-08.
16. "Archaeologists uncover 3,800-year-old kurgan tomb in Azerbaijan | The Jerusalem Post". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. 2025-07-20. Retrieved 2025-07-21.
17. Tomadin, Por Francisco González (2025-07-17). "Espectacular hallazgo en Azerbaiyán: descubrieron un túmulo funerario de 3.800 años perteneciente a un líder guerrero de la Edad del Bronce". infobae (in European Spanish). Retrieved 2025-07-21.
18. Milligan, Mark (2025-07-15). "3,800-year-old warrior's tomb found intact". HeritageDaily - Archaeology News. Retrieved 2025-07-21.
19. Valdez, Carlos (2025-08-01). "Ancient pre-Hispanic grave unearthed under residential Lima street". Reuters. Retrieved 2025-08-27.
20. "Utility workers in Peru unearth pre-Incan tomb with 1,000-year-old remains". CTVNews. 2025-07-31. Retrieved 2025-08-27.
21. Ramírez-Salomón, Marco; Mata-Castillo, Estuardo; Monsreal-Peniche, María Beatriz; Luin, Camilo; Klee-Bueso, Héctor; Cucina, Andrea; Vega-Lizama, Elma (2025-11-01). "Prehispanic Maya dental inlays in teeth with open apices: Implications for age of cultural practices" . Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports. 67 105353. doi:10.1016/j.jasrep.2025.105353. ISSN   2352-409X.
22. Paul, Andrew (2025-08-28). "Jade gems decorated these Mayan kids' teeth". Popular Science. Retrieved 2025-09-06.
23. Whalen, Ryan (2025-09-03). "Evidence of 9000-Year-Old "House of the Dead" Unearthed at Neolithic City of Çatalhöyük, Archaeologists Say". The Debrief. Retrieved 2025-09-05.
24. Altuntas, Leman; Buyukyildirim, Oguz (2025-08-30). "Çatalhöyük Unearths New Secrets: Social Change and the "House of the Dead" in One of the World's Oldest Cities". Arkeonews. Retrieved 2025-09-05.
25. Milligan, Mark (2025-11-06). "Archaeologists confirm the burial remains of Saint Hilarion". HeritageDaily - Archaeology News. Retrieved 2026-01-06.
26. Milligan, Mark (2025-11-27). "Archaic-Era tomb contains elaborate bronze diadem". HeritageDaily - Archaeology News. Retrieved 2025-12-02.
27. "The Noblewoman of Lake Kifisida: An Archaic-Era Tomb Reveals a Woman Buried with an Upside-Down Bronze Diadem". Ancientist. 2025-11-28. Retrieved 2025-12-02.
28. "Impressive burials from ancient times in Fthiotis - The noblewoman with the reversed diadem". Days of Art in Greece. 2025-12-01. Retrieved 2025-12-02.
29. Margolis, Andrea (2025-11-20). "Warrior from long-lost ancient civilization deemed 'high status' found with rare treasures". Fox News. Retrieved 2025-12-02.
30. Milligan, Mark (2025-11-30). "Elite warrior burials found near Akasztó". HeritageDaily - Archaeology News. Retrieved 2025-12-02.
31. "16th-century gallows and dozens of skeletons discovered in France". Live Science. 2025-12-12. Retrieved 2025-12-15.
32. Milligan, Mark (2025-12-13). "16th-century gallows discovered in Grenoble". HeritageDaily - Archaeology News. Retrieved 2025-12-15.
33. Milligan, Mark (2025-12-28). "War crimes of the Red Army unearthed near Duczów Małe". HeritageDaily - Archaeology News. Retrieved 2026-01-02.
34. Orie, Amarachi (2025-08-27). "France returns skull of king beheaded during colonial era to Madagascar". CNN. Retrieved 2025-09-05.
35. Rabary, Lovasoa (2025-09-02). "Madagascar receives three colonial-era human skulls from France". Reuters. Retrieved 2025-09-05.