Posted on 07/17/2012 8:15:24 PM PDT by SunkenCiv
The deposits at Etricourt Manancourt in the Picardie region of France documents the history of early European settlements, revealing at least five prehistoric levels, ranging between 300,000 and 80,000 years old...
Archaeologists from Inrap looked at 17 hectares in 2010, which revealed a Palaeolithic level and more evidence was found in 2012, when 3,200 square metres were excavated over 4 month period.
The most recent occupation comes from the Middle Paleolithic (80,000 years old) and belongs to the Neanderthals. Twenty sites of this period are already known in northern France.
The next two levels are also Neanderthal and belong to the early phase of the Middle Paleolithic during an interglacial period -- the Saalian -- between 190,000 and 240,000 years old. The discoveries of sites from this period are rare and, in the north of France, only excavations in 1999 (around Beauvais) and Biache St. Vaast in 1976 (Pas-de-Calais) have produced such well preserved contemporary deposits...
Seven metres deep, the excavation revealed three major climatic cycles through successive glacial and interglacial periods (the Holsteinian the Saalian and Weichselian).
The contents of the 300,000 year layer are perfectly preserved in moist soil conditions and has produced so far several hundred flints including the biface...
The organic remains (bones and wood) have unfortunately not been preserved due to soil acidity. However, the distribution of remains and lithic studies will provide key elements to reconstruct the behaviour and lifestyle of these early Europeans.
(Excerpt) Read more at pasthorizonspr.com ...
By normal definition of the word "history", it began when people themselves began writing, circa 3,200 BC.
Everything before that is classified as "pre-historic".
"Pre-historic" doesn't mean we know nothing about those folks, just that we have no written records which they themselves left.
But, of course, the geniuses at AGW Central have discovered CO2 is the magic bullet that can turn off the glacial cycle! Not!
Great point. Do you have a link/source for your tagline?
So then the difference is between what had been recorded at the time and evidence being discovered and recorded now. I think it all counts as history, whether it be Nostradamus’ Quatraines, cave paintings, distant supernovae or the fossilized remains of some previously undiscovered ancient species.
Counts for what?
If you wish to count everything as "history" and effectively eliminate the concept of "prehistoric", what exactly do you gain?
To repeat: the usual definition of "history" means "recorded history", with "prehistoric" meaning "before recorded history".
I'd say that's still an important distinction, so what is your problem with it?
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