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87 Neanderthal footprints found on an ancient Iberian shoreline
Phys dot org ^ | April 16, 2021 | Bob Yirka

Posted on 04/20/2021 4:20:22 AM PDT by SunkenCiv

Neanderthals lived in parts of the Middle East and Europe from 400,000 to 40,000 years ago. During that time, they left behind a lot of evidence of their existence—primarily their bones and crafted objects such as stone tools. Sometimes, though, they also left behind evidence of their activities, such as walking along a beach next to a body of water. In this new effort, the researchers have found evidence of as many as 36 individuals walking along a beach—including children.

The work involved studying footprints left on Matalascañas beach, in Doñana National Park, in Spain. Prior work there had involved footprints left by animals. When Neanderthal footprints were discovered, the researchers began studying them using a variety of techniques, including filming from above using drones and digital scanning to create three-dimensional renderings.

In all, the team found 87 Neanderthal footprints in what is now sedimentary rock. Testing of materials in the rock showed the footprints to be approximately 106,000 years old. They were only recently revealed due to recent heavy rains in the area. Prior evidence showed that the area was once an inland watering hole.

The researchers were able to work out the differences between the individuals who made the footprints by carefully measuring their size and the depth of the prints they created as they walked. They found that they included 25 adults—14 male and five female—and 11 children. They were unable to make determinations for six individuals.

(Excerpt) Read more at phys.org ...


TOPICS: History; Science; Travel
KEYWORDS: footprint; footprints; godsgravesglyphs; iberia; neandertal; neandertals; neanderthal; neanderthals; paleontology; trackway; trackways
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To: SunkenCiv

How can those prints be positively identified as Neanderthal? There doesn’t appear to be any structural difference from Homo Sapiens.


21 posted on 04/20/2021 11:17:08 AM PDT by JimRed (TERM LIMITS, NOW! Militia to the border! TRUTH is the new HATE SPEECH.)
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To: JimRed
If the date is correct, it's before any "anatomically modern" humans (Homo sapiens) were present in Europe. So they would be Neanderthals.
22 posted on 04/20/2021 11:26:45 AM PDT by Verginius Rufus
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To: SunkenCiv

Forgot about it, watched Chinese spaghetti western instead -= didn’t miss much other than AAPL falling $2


23 posted on 04/20/2021 11:37:47 AM PDT by PIF (They came for me and mine ... now its your turn)
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To: SunkenCiv

Given the soft texture, it would wash away in hours or days if it were not quickly preserved under layers.


24 posted on 04/20/2021 12:08:50 PM PDT by lurk ( )
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To: PIF
Noodle western, eh?

25 posted on 04/20/2021 12:54:19 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (Imagine an imaginary menagerie manager imagining managing an imaginary menagerie.)
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To: SunkenCiv

No noodles in this one (unlike The Longest Day in Chang’an) which is Novoland Eagle Flag - both TV shows with someting like 56 episodes - both recommended and far better than any US fare


26 posted on 04/20/2021 1:17:00 PM PDT by PIF (They came for me and mine ... now its your turn)
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