Posted on 01/09/2009 9:31:15 AM PST by SunkenCiv
While good evidence exists for the use of natural objects modified as jewellery almost 100,000 years ago in southern Africa and the Middle East, the case for this having occurred twice as long ago in Europe has also been argued, and has now come under renewed scrutiny. Perforated seashells from Blombos Cave and possible shell beads from Sibudu Cave, both in South Africa, date from 70,000-75,000 years ago, while perforated shells bearing traces of red ochre are known from the Grotte des Pigeons in Morocco at 82,500 years and from Qafzeh in Israel at 90,000 years ago... naturally perforated small fossil sponges of the species Porosphaera globularis... were found in the Somme valley in northern France, from Acheulean period contexts dating from 200,000 years ago; others were found in Victorian times at Biddenham, Bedfordshire, and in an Acheulean site near Bedford itself. The Acheulean, the first widespread flint tool industry in Europe, may have been manufactured by Homo heidelbergensis, the species to which Boxgrove Man belonged... Dr Rigaud's team exclude natural sorting, leaving a choice between early hominids or 19th-century excavators, either of whom might have chosen only the most striking, or potentially useful, examples from a wider range. It is possible that the micro-chipping seen as ancient improvement of the perforations could have been made when the specimens were strung by the excavators or subsequent museum curators, although William Smith, excavator of the Bedford "beads" was explicit about the abrasions being there when they were dug up. A final verdict of "not proven" is the only one currently possible, the team conclude.
(Excerpt) Read more at timesonline.co.uk ...
Early humans may have used makeup, seafood
AP Science via Yahoo! | 10-17-07 | Seth Borenstein
Posted on 10/17/2007 11:22:47 AM PDT by Pharmboy
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1912573/posts
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Gods |
To all -- please ping me to other topics which are appropriate for the GGG list. |
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· Discover · Nat Geographic · Texas AM Anthro News · Yahoo Anthro & Archaeo · · The Archaeology Channel · Excerpt, or Link only? · cgk's list of ping lists · |
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Early metrosexuals?
A wise man once noted that these strings of shells were possibly not used as adornment originally, but that early men may have strung them through branches at boundaries and strategic areas to signal when large animals or human invaders swept close. Later they were put around the necks of children, livestock, captives, etc. To act as early warning of one kind or another.
“Necklaces reveal early man’s intelligence”
I already knew this. Adam was the first man and just around 1,500 years later men built a big ship and the Tower of Babel.
Early Guilty Husband
Poof cavemen?
I bet most of humanity has some genetic inheritance remaining from the first cavedude who figured out how to make something pretty for the ladies.
Necklaces were invented by early hominids when they discovered they got more sex by bringing home a necklace than a broom.
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