John Hawks

John Hawks

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Research by John Hawks

The first molecular data from Homo naledi
Protein data from the Rising Star cave system show the known sample of this species is entirely female.
 • John Hawks
Genomes from tombs of the Golden Horde, and the Y chromosome of Genghis Khan
Research led by my PhD student looks at the connections of medieval mausoleums in Kazakhstan.
 • John Hawks
Bringing emotional cognition to deep time
In a new article, my coauthors and I draw upon cognitive science to draw out archaeological traces of ancient social lives
 • John Hawks
Informal hominins, from Denisovan to superarchaic
In a new research article, I review the ways that paleoanthropologists name ancient groups outside the Linnaean system.
 • John Hawks
Members' briefing: June 10, 2025
In my first video for paid subscribers, I share my plan for the upcoming month of laboratory, fieldwork and writing.
 • John Hawks
12:29
Research highlight: Burials by Homo naledi
After two years of intense reviews and revision, the work on burial evidence from this ancient hominin finds acceptance.
 • John Hawks
Research highlight: Brain of the Taung Child
A new study of the endocast discovered a hundred years ago asks, what if we found this fossil today?
 • John Hawks
Research highlight: Understanding how Homo naledi walked and ran
A new paper in the Journal of Anatomy presents a reconstructed lower limb based on the Rising Star fossil sample.
 • John Hawks
Research highlight: Growth and development in human origins
A report from a Wenner-Gren-supported workshop innovating ways forward for understanding hominin ontogenies
 • John Hawks
Research highlight: Homo naledi teeth
In a massive new paper, a team led by Lucas Delezene provides descriptions of the dental evidence from the Dinaledi Chamber.
 • John Hawks
Finding ancient fire use in the Rising Star cave system
The study of the underground landscape enters a new phase with evidence of charcoal and burned animal bone in deep chambers.
 • John Hawks
Research highlight: The frontal sinuses of fossil hominins
A look inside the skulls of hominins reveals the extensive variation in the form of the internal structures known as the frontal sinuses.
 • John Hawks
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