Posted on 10/05/2007 4:25:03 AM PDT by Renfield
Boxgrove
The man who died half a million years ago
In a gravel pit at Boxgrove, just outside Chichester, the remains of a man have been discovered, half a million years old. Only a shin bone and two teeth were discovered, but his position, under thick layers of gravel show that he is the oldest 'man' so far discovered in Britain.
The Boxgrove quarry
The discovery was made in a gravel quarry. The gravel was laid down in a later Ice Age on top of a chalk bed, which is visible in the upper squares. Originally a stream flowed from the cliffs (bottom left, behind the camera), and around this stream, numerous remains of animal bones were found, and also numerous handaxes - and part of a human skeleton.
The Bone
The most famous discovery - a tibia, or shin bone from an early man. Both ends have been gnawed off, probably by a wolf, but it was from a robust individual, very active, and is assigned to the group known as 'Heidelberg man'. Two teeth were also discovered at the bottom of the channel, at least a metre lower than the tibia. The teeth probably come from the same individual, and are similar to the teeth from Mauer man.
One of the flint handaxes found at Boxgrove
This shows very clearly the 'tranchet' tip: a blow had been struck at the top left corner removing a flake from the top quarter of the axe, thus leaving a razor-sharp edge. Over 250 of such hand axes were found in a single season. The associated fauna - notably some voles' teeth, show that the site is to be dated to a period before the 'Anglian' or 'Great' ice age, and should therefore be dated to around 500,000 years old.
Section through the quarry
Today the site is on the flat coastal plain, several miles from the sea to the south, and a mile from the low foothills of the South Downs to the north. Half a million years ago however, the site lay at the foot of chalk cliffs 200 metres high, which have since been totally eroded. Here we see the foot of the former cliffs, top left, with some of the storm beaches thrown up by the sea (right). When the sea level fell, a broad grassy plain soon evolved, a rich habitat for animals and early man. [Poster's note: the picture referenced in this paragraph is missing from the original article]
bit cranky today, are we hmm?
Scientists tend to write carefully, saying no more than they can reliably document, and couching even what they can document in very careful terms.
You ask, "the 'experts' aren't convinced, why should I be?"
Why do you assume you know more than the experts? How long have you studied in this field? Should I address you as Dr. Nerks?
As for cranky, yes, I do get "cranky" with folks who trash science and scientists without sufficient personal knowledge to have a valid scientific opinion. You comment has led me to believe that you might fit into this category.
If you have spent a few dozen years studying this field and, on that basis, have specific doubts concerning their findings, then I will certainly listen respectfully.
Otherwise, no.
mail for you
Boxgrove, just outside ChichesterThat triggered a recollection, but I'd not time to share it before. It comes from a friend, who read it in a book by Alan Watts, I believe.
There was a young lady of ChichesterGood to recite that one slowly, but the temptation on the last line is to gallop like a horse. :')
whose good looks make the saints in their niches stir
one Sunday at Mass
the curve of her ass
made the Bishop of Chichester's britches stir.
You have mail as well.
Here is a useful chart. Note the center line, temperature:
But...but...it's just a Dead White MaleTM /DU mode.
Cheers!
And just where do you take your dates to, anyway?
;-)
Cheers!
ping, if you’re so inclined
There was a young fellow from Sparta
Who became quite a champion Farta
From the cheeks of his ass
Came Bach’s B minor mass
And selections from La Traviata.
it's official.
“The humankind descended from Adam have only been around for approx. 6000+ years. How long humankind have been on the planet is not covered in the Bible, if that’s what you’re trying to denigrate.”
In addition to being two poorly constructed and grammatically incorrect sentences, this sentiment is frankly terrifying in its implications. The way you play with anthropology and theology at the same time, while evidencing a gross lack of understanding of the finer points of either, is staggering. Lord help the Republican Party if you are a voting member.
Thanks for the ping!
Do you get occasional nose bleeds from way up there on your lofty condescension perch? Bwahahaha, but you must be having fun being such an ass else you’d stop braying!
I can see blokes at a pub attempting that one after 10 rounds of pints.
"And it appears that he's a registered democrat who's voted the party line in every election since FDR was first elected!"
Mark
I never would have expected a verse like that from you!
So, since you asked for it, Le Petomane.
Truth is stranger than fiction.
Cheers!
my dating techniques, while not always accurate, generally involve rodents and other small woodland creatures.
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