Posted on 01/06/2026 6:49:44 PM PST by SunkenCiv
A study of the genomes of Italians who have reached the age of 100 has found that they carry a higher proportion of genetic material from the ancestral group known as Western Hunter-Gatherers than the rest of the population, according to a Phys.org report. Researchers led by Stefania Sarno and Vincenzo Iannuzzi of the University of Bologna analyzed the genes of 333 Italian centenarians and 690 healthy adults around the age of 50. These genomes were then compared to more than 100 ancient genomes from four ancestral groups: Western Hunter-Gatherers, Neolithic Anatolian farmers, Bronze Age nomads, and ancient groups from the Iranian and Caucasus regions. All of the individuals in the study carried a mix of genes from these four ancestral groups, but only genes from the Western Hunter-Gatherers were linked to longevity. The researchers suggest that these hardy hunter-gatherer genes may date back to the last lce Age, since survivors would have triumphed over harsh conditions with limited food. Read the original scholarly article about this research in GeroScience. To read about evidence of Ice Age dentistry in Italy, go to "Not So Pearly Whites."
(Excerpt) Read more at archaeology.org ...
According to a SciNews report, modern humans may have hunted with bows and arrows in the early Upper Paleolithic, between 40,000 and 35,000 years ago. It had been previously thought that people living in Europe at this time hunted with thrusting spears at close range, only advancing to spear-throwers some 20,000 years ago, and then to bows and arrows about 12,000 years ago, based upon artifacts recovered from Paleolithic sites. Researchers led by Keiko Kitagawa of the University of Tübingen experimented with attaching replica stone, antler, and bone points to shafts and launching them as arrows shot from a bow, spears, and darts. The scientists then compared the wear patterns on the experimental projectile points with the wear found on prehistoric points. The results of these tests suggest that modern humans may have been using different weapons simultaneously, as they adapted to different environments and types of prey. "Our study in part demonstrates the complex nature of reconstruction projectile technology, which is often created with perishable materials," the researchers explained. Read the original scholarly article about this research in iScience. To read about the development of hunting weaponry, go to "Weapons of the Ancient World: Hunting Equipment."
They did survive the mammoth hunts to have progeny.
Unlike today, those not functioning at the peak of human performance were rapidly weeded out. Only the fittest survived to pass on their genes. It was a sad and brutal fact of life.
Question: What difference at this point does it make?
Several years ago, a 100-year-old Italian man was seen jogging around St. Peter’s Square in Rome. When asked the secret of his long life and good health, he replied, “beer.”
Hunter gatherer lifestyle is what I try to live every day. It involves 2 actions. #1 I walk 5000+ steps every day. #2 I avoid eating grains (wheat, rice) which hunter gatherers did not eat. I will be 86 in couple of months and have no health issues.
“Unlike today, those not functioning at the peak of human performance were rapidly weeded out. “
Today we do the opposite. We actually pay those that with below average intelligence to have more kids.
The Yamnaya didn’t make it to the Med.
And basil, basil pesto.
Gives credence to Darwinism - survival of the fittest...
Other than that I have nothing to offer. :)
Every single gene in every single cell of every single person "dates back to the last Ice Age".
Does the author think some genes were brought to earth by aliens 8,000 years ago and thus would not "date back to the last Ice Age"?
No, that idea is restricted to Ted Holden.
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