Some scientists question whether or not Ardipithecus ramidus belongs in the human family tree in the new issue of Science. “It was completely expected. Any time you have something that is as different as Ardi, you’re probably going to have it,” said Tim White of the University of California, Berkeley.  There’s more on the debate over Ardi’s home environment at Live Science.

Learn everything you’ve ever wanted to know about Egypt’s Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, Zahi Hawass, who is featured in Spiegel Online as “Avenger of the Pharaohs.” Happy Birthday, Dr. Hawass!  

More than 90 tombs dating from China’s Warring States Period to the Han Dynasty have been discovered in Hebei province.  

A new study of Africa’s population history combines genetic data with linguistic and archaeological studies. “The details of modern human demography are complex and not well understood, so we have taken a cross-disciplinary approach to highlight broad patterns of population history in Africa,” said Laura Scheinfeldt of the University of Pennsylvania.

British citizens have returned artifacts that their family members had collected in Libya following World War II. “I salute those people for this initiative,” said Saleh Agab, head of Libya’s archaeology department.

An ice cellar, or a cool place to store food, has been found in a Win Dynasty (221-207 B.C.) palace in northwest China. “If ice cellars were popular more than 2,000 years ago, it certainly sounds reasonable that the emperor and court officials would have one in their residence,” said archaeologist Tian Yaqi.  

Rome’s Colosseum still needs someone to support its ongoing restoration. “More than sponsors, we prefer to talk of partners, because we would like them to get involved along with us,” said Piero Meogrossi of Italy’s culture ministry.  

Another famous English battle may be memorialized in the wrong place. The Stow-on-the-Wold battle of the first civil war was thought to have taken place three miles north of Stow, but local researchers think it must have been much closer.