British Museum

Hominin behavior, strategies, and environmental conditions in Southern Europe (Marine Isotope Stage 17–15): The 100-ka sequence of Notarchirico (Italy, 700–600 ka)

The Notarchirico sequence comprises a continuous 100-ka-long record of phases of hominin occupation between Marine Isotope Stage 17 and Marine Isotope Stage 15, revealing remarkable technological stability alongside some innovations. We analyzed core technology, raw material prov...

A new megaraptoran dinosaur from the Lower Cretaceous Wessex Formation, UK, and its implications for theropod evolution and biogeography

Abstract Theropod dinosaur remains from the Barremian (Lower Cretaceous) Wessex Formation of the Isle of Wight, UK, are rare and often fragmentary. Here, we present a previously undescribed braincase from this formation that represents a new coelurosaurian, Invictibellatrix amber...

Signs of power: giant ficron handaxes may have played a non-utilitarian role in structuring social groups in MIS 9 Britain

Giant ficrons are a rare but recurrent sub-type of Acheulean handaxe, that in Britain are predominantly found in assemblages dating to the MIS 9 interglacial. A variety of theories have aimed to explain the striking size and appearance of giant ficrons as reflecting their use in...

Morphology of the Devonian mandibulate arthropod Rhyniognatha and its implications for the timing of insect evolution

Abstract Insects are phenomenally diverse, yet their evolutionary origins remain poorly understood. The fossil Rhyniognatha hirsti from the Early Devonian Rhynie chert (ca. 408 Ma) has been widely accepted as the earliest insect and a crown-group pterygote (flying insect), based...