Posted on 12/17/2021 5:31:44 PM PST by billorites
A 125,000-year-old site in Germany known as Neumark-Nord reveals the earliest evidence of one of our hominin relatives, Neanderthals, leaving a lasting mark on their landscape.
Located about 22 miles east of Leipzig, Neumark-Nord was dotted with small lakes during an era 130,000 to 115,000 years ago when glaciers had retreated from Europe. Archaeological evidence suggests Neanderthals, who hunted and gathered, moved into the area to capitalize on the milder climate during that time, and altered their landscape through increased use.
These hominins hunted and butchered animals, produced tools, collected firewood and built campfires in the Neumark-Nord region for about 2,000 years, in turn modifying the local ecosystem for the duration of the Neanderthals’ stay, a study published Wednesday in the journal Science Advances says.
“Initially a forested area, the area became open when Neanderthals arrived, and stayed open for about 2,000 years. Upon their leaving, the forest closed in again,” said Wil Roebroeks, a professor of Paleolithic archaeology at Leiden University in the Netherlands and lead author of the study.
The research suggests our species isn’t the first to have modified their landscape.
“Modern humans today are impacting ecosystems on a global scale with severe consequences for biodiversity and habitats around the world,” said Katerina Harvati, a paleoanthropologist at Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen in Germany who wasn’t involved in the study.
The new study is “pointing to a significant impact of human activities on ecosystems even by small hunter-gatherer groups predating the arrival of modern Homo sapiens,” she added.
“It adds an important aspect to early human (including Neanderthals) behavior, with them impacting ecosystems very far into the past, even though we do not know whether this was intentional behavior intended to make and keep the landscape open,” Dr. Roebroeks said.
(Excerpt) Read more at wsj.com ...
You see, climate change is a good thing. I don't think they can blame this one on the Neanderthal's use of fossil fuels. Its actually just the latest interglacial period that began 10,000 years ago or so. Less intense solar activity and you get the next ice age. More intense solar activity and you get an interglacial period. Nothing new here under the sun.
The Neandertal Enigma"Frayer's own reading of the record reveals a number of overlooked traits that clearly and specifically link the Neandertals to the Cro-Magnons. One such trait is the shape of the opening of the nerve canal in the lower jaw, a spot where dentists often give a pain-blocking injection. In many Neandertal, the upper portion of the opening is covered by a broad bony ridge, a curious feature also carried by a significant number of Cro-Magnons. But none of the alleged 'ancestors of us all' fossils from Africa have it, and it is extremely rare in modern people outside Europe." [pp 126-127]
by James Shreeve
in local libraries
KEYWORDS: neandertal; neandertals; neanderthal; neanderthals
Neumark-Nord
Sounds like a luxury department store. Any relation to Neiman Marcus or Nordstrom? Those Neanderthals liked to dress well!
I’d like to see some of the tools they found. The “Heated stone tools” comment caught my attention. Heated stone is not uncommon but I don’t think I’ve heard of them heat treating stone that far back.
Flint knappers found long ago that you could improve the workability of certain flints and cherts.
I’d like to see some of the tools they found. The “Heated stone tools” comment caught my attention. Heated stone is not uncommon but I don’t think I’ve heard of them heat treating stone that far back.
Flint knappers found long ago that you could improve the workability of certain flints and cherts with heat.
Pffffttt.
“Modern humans today are impacting ecosystems on a global scale with severe consequences for biodiversity and habitats around the world,” said Katerina Harvati, a paleoanthropologist at Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen in Germany who wasn’t involved in the study.How many degrees does it take to understand that EVERY species, down to bacteria, "impacts ecosystems"? As for "biodiversity," doh, each one of those species has as its particular job to knock out any other that competes with it.
Well, the Neanderthals were White.
Well, the Neanderthals were White.
—
unfortunately, there are no surviving photographs, movies or other images to prove that contention - even their text messages and cell phone records are long gone.
Ha! It’s actually a pretty grim area of the former DDR, with open pit mines from the Soviet days.
cheers,
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
