The Human Dynasty

New Zealand’s tuatara is a slow, ponderous reptile, but DNA studies show that it is evolving at a faster rate than any other animal on Earth

Evidence that Neanderthals painted their bodies with symbols is a strong hint that they had language to convey the meaning of these symbols

Did mammals develop nutritional milk before or after they abandoned yolky eggs? A new genetic study may hold the answer

There are a number of impressive websites available for local historians, which can also be used by genealogists. The Kent Archaeological Society’s website http://www.kentarchaeology.org.uk has recently been updated and now offers nearly 16,000 pages of indexed records that can be searched and downloaded free of charge. They include hundreds of memorial inscriptions from Kent parish churches and graveyards transcribed between 1756 and 1921. In many cases the original gravestones or monuments have been destroyed or become illegible. In addition, there are transcriptions of 200 individual Tithe Award Schedules from 1830s and 1840s. Eventually the KAS will publish all of the county’s 403 schedules online. Also available are scans of the Victoria County History of Kent Vol 3, which includes census figures for every parish in the county (1801 – 1921), indexes from "Archaeologia Cantiana" plus a selection of articles taken from it and part of Arthur Ruderman’s research into Ashford’s births, marriages and burials, manor rentals, and manor court rolls. More professionally produced is the "Documenting the Workshop of the World" project for the Black Country. The project has now been completed and the results available at http://www.blackcountryhistory.org. Over the past three years over 60 collections of business records and other material from local firms as well as 10,000 images covering life in the region have been digitised. The site is relatively easy to use and there are some great images to be found here. I spent a happy half hour looking at pictures of pubs – the Black Country is noted for its many splendid hostelries as I hope to rediscover shortly!