Post by L Roebuck on Dec 21, 2006 11:27:34 GMT -5
Cave find a stepping stone back to early man
Deborah Smith Science Editor
THE oldest evidence of occupation by modern humans on the islands that were the stepping stones to Australia has been discovered by an Australian archaeologist.
A cave site in East Timor where people lived more than 42,000 years ago - dining on turtles, tuna and giant rats - was unearthed by Sue O'Connor, head of archaeology and natural history at the Australian National University.
She also found ancient stone tools and shells used for decoration in the limestone shelter, known as Jerimalai, on the eastern tip of the island.
Associate Professor O'Connor said her discovery could help solve the mystery of the route ancient seafarers took to get here from South-East Asia.
It strengthened the view that they made a southern passage, via Timor, rather than north via Borneo, Sulawesi and down through New Guinea.
"The antiquity of the Jerimalai shelter makes this site significant at a world level," said Dr O'Connor, who presented the findings at this month's annual conference of the Australian Archaeological Association.
Sea levels were lower when modern humans set off around the coast from Africa more than 70,000 years ago.
Full Article
Deborah Smith Science Editor
THE oldest evidence of occupation by modern humans on the islands that were the stepping stones to Australia has been discovered by an Australian archaeologist.
A cave site in East Timor where people lived more than 42,000 years ago - dining on turtles, tuna and giant rats - was unearthed by Sue O'Connor, head of archaeology and natural history at the Australian National University.
She also found ancient stone tools and shells used for decoration in the limestone shelter, known as Jerimalai, on the eastern tip of the island.
Associate Professor O'Connor said her discovery could help solve the mystery of the route ancient seafarers took to get here from South-East Asia.
It strengthened the view that they made a southern passage, via Timor, rather than north via Borneo, Sulawesi and down through New Guinea.
"The antiquity of the Jerimalai shelter makes this site significant at a world level," said Dr O'Connor, who presented the findings at this month's annual conference of the Australian Archaeological Association.
Sea levels were lower when modern humans set off around the coast from Africa more than 70,000 years ago.
Full Article