Post by L Roebuck on Oct 18, 2007 6:51:43 GMT -5
African Cave Yields Earliest Proof of Beach Living
Mason Inman for National Geographic News
The earliest modern humans probably arose on the savannas of East Africa, but a new study shows they soon learned that life could be good on the beach.
Excavation of a sea cave on the tip of South Africa has shown that by 165,000 years ago people were already living near the coast and relying heavily on a diet of shellfish.
Researchers found bones and shell fragments from 15 kinds of marine animals—including snails, limpets, and brown mussels—dated some 45,000 years earlier than other sites found to have seafood remains.
The ancient cave dwellers also had sophisticated stone-bladed tools and were using a pigment called ochre, perhaps for painting their bodies, caves, or other objects
Full Text
Mason Inman for National Geographic News
The earliest modern humans probably arose on the savannas of East Africa, but a new study shows they soon learned that life could be good on the beach.
Excavation of a sea cave on the tip of South Africa has shown that by 165,000 years ago people were already living near the coast and relying heavily on a diet of shellfish.
Researchers found bones and shell fragments from 15 kinds of marine animals—including snails, limpets, and brown mussels—dated some 45,000 years earlier than other sites found to have seafood remains.
The ancient cave dwellers also had sophisticated stone-bladed tools and were using a pigment called ochre, perhaps for painting their bodies, caves, or other objects
Full Text