Final answer:
Human bones have been found by various researchers across different time periods which have provided valuable insights into our history, such as the work of Randy Haas in Peru, Donald Johanson's discovery of Lucy in Ethiopia, and the analysis of remains from historic Jamestown.
Step-by-step explanation:
Discoveries of Ancient Human Remains
Throughout history, there have been numerous instances where human bones have been found buried, revealing significant insights into our past. For example, Randy Haas discovered a 9,000-year-old grave of a teenager in the Andes mountains of Peru, which provided evidence against the long-standing notion that hunting was an exclusively male activity. Similarly, the research on the 9,000-year-old remains found in a riverbed in Oregon has sparked discussions about the peopling of North America and the cultural claims of Native Americans regarding their ancestry.
One of the most renowned findings was made by Donald Johanson who discovered the fossilized remains of Lucy, an early human ancestor, in Ethiopia in 1974. This discovery had profound implications for our understanding of human evolution. Historical burial practices, such as those including ornate grave goods found in Europe, provide a window into the beliefs and cultures of our ancestors. These finds range from elaborate graves like those in Ur, believed to be linked to high-ranking individuals or priestesses, to more recent discoveries like the bones of Homo naledi in South Africa.
Not all findings are ancient - in North America, the remains of a girl from the historic Jamestown colony were found, providing evidence of cannibalism during a period of starvation in the winter of 1609-1610. These excavations are often a blend of historical and forensic anthropology.