Latest news with #Paleolithic
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- Yahoo
Oldest-known whale bone tools discovered in a Spanish cave
Prehistoric stone tools are among some of the oldest and important pieces of evidence we have of a time when our species began to evolve a higher level of intelligence. Many of these tools were also made from animal bones–including the bones of some of the biggest animals on the planet. New research finds that humans living up to 20,000 years ago may have been making tools out of whale bones. The discovery not only adds more to the story of early human tool use, but gives a glimpse into ancient whale ecology. The findings are detailed in a study published May 27 in the journal Nature Communications. 'That humans frequented the seashore, and took advantage of its resources, is probably as old as humankind,' Jean-Marc Pétillon, an archaeologist at the Université Toulouse Jean Jaurès in France and study co-author, tells Popular Science. 'There is evidence of whale scavenging at the site of Dungo 5 in Angola dating to 1 million years.' For our Paleolithic ancestors living in coastal areas, the sturdy bones of large whales were potentially an excellent resource for various tools. However, many prehistoric coastal archaeological sites are fragile and are at risk of rising sea levels, making reconstructing the past interactions between marine mammals and humans a challenge for scientists.. 'The tools were dated between 20,000 and 16,000 years before [the] present, a period way before the invention of agriculture, and during which all human groups in the world lived a life of nomadic hunter-gatherers,' says Pétillon. 'Climatically, this is the last part of the last glaciation, with a climate much colder than today.' That colder climate brought a sea level that was roughly almost 400 feet lower than it is today. With this change in sea level, we have no direct evidence of the human occupations on the shore, since the rise in sea level either wiped them out or the settlements lay buried under 300 or so feet of water. With this lack of evidence Paleolithic people have historically been viewed as inland hunters. Those living in present day western Europe would have hunted red deer, reindeer, bison, horse, and ibex. While they did hunt inland, there is a growing body of evidence from the last 20 years showing that they also took advantage of the Paleolithic seashore. 'There are studies showing that people also gathered seashells, hunted seabirds, fished marine fish, etc., as a complement to terrestrial diet, and these studies were made possible because Paleolithic people carried remains of marine origin away from the seashore, into inland sites,' explains Pétillon. 'Our study adds whales to the lot. It is one more contribution showing that Late Paleolithic humans also regularly frequented the seashore and used its resources.' [ Related: Ice age humans made needles from animal bones, archeologists discover. ] In the new study, the team analyzed 83 bone tools that were excavated from sites around Spain's Bay of Biscay and 90 additional bones uncovered from Santa Catalina Cave in Spain. They used mass spectrometry and radiocarbon dating to identify which species the bones belonged to and estimate the age of the samples. The bones come from at least five species of large whales–sperm, fin, blue, gray, and either right whales or bowheads. The latter two species are indistinguishable using this technique. The oldest whale specimens are dated to roughly 19,000 to 20,000 years ago, representing some of the earliest known evidence of humans using the remains of whales to make tools. Some of the whale bone points themselves were over 15 inches long. 'Most of the objects made of whale bone are projectile points, part of the hunting equipment. They can be very long and thick, and were probably hafted on spear-style projectiles rather than arrows (and the use of the spearthrower is documented in this period),' says Pétillon. 'The main raw material used to manufacture projectile points at that period is antler, because it is less brittle and more pliable than bone, but whale bone was preferred in certain cases probably because of its large dimensions.' Most of these whale species identified in this study are still found in the Bay of Biscay and northeastern North Atlantic to this day. However, gray whales are now primarily limited to the North Pacific Ocean and Arctic. Additional chemical data from the tools also suggests that the feeding habits of the ancient whales were slightly different than those living today. According to the authors, this is likely due to behavioral or environmental changes. That the whales in the area have stayed relatively the same was particularly intriguing for Pétillon. 'What was more surprising to me—as an archeologist more accustomed to terrestrial faunas—was that these whale species remained the same despite the great environmental difference between the Late Pleistocene and today,' he says. 'In the same period, continental faunas are very different: the ungulates hunted include reindeer, saiga antelopes, bison, etc., all disappeared from Western Europe today.' Importantly, the findings here do not imply that active whaling was occurring. The techniques at the time would not allow humans to hunt sperm, blue, or fin whales and the team believes that these populations took advantage of whale strandings to harvest the bones for tools. 'The earliest evidence of active whaling is much younger, around 6,000 [years] before present in Korea (site of Bangudae) and maybe around 5,000 before present in Europe (Neolithic sites in the Netherlands),' says Pétillon. Future studies could look at the systematic way that these ancient Atlantic Europeans systematically used the seashore and how they developed their ocean hunting techniques.
Time of India
24-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- Time of India
Caveman Skin Trend: Why is it getting viral and popular among teens
Several glitzy product-haul videos pale in comparison to the 178 million views that clips with the hashtags #cavemanskincare and #cavemanregimen have received on TikTok. Since creator Tia Zakher (@tiazakher) posted a brief video stating that her objective is to repair her skin barrier through the caveman regime, it has become a real trend among teens. If you've no idea about the caveman skin trend, you might be living in the Stone Age. Going bare is the main goal of this skincare trend. No makeup, no sunscreen, no moisturizer, and no washing —just your own skin in the hopes that it will cure acne. This surely takes you back to the prehistoric era when you wash your face with just water. However, we are all aware of the skincare that is currently resting in glory on our shelves, if not in a pile. What does the Caveman Skin Trend claim? Thousands of creators are filming themselves doing virtually nothing to their skin—no moisturizers, cleansers, sunscreen, and occasionally even water—instead of chasing every new serum. The promise is enticingly straightforward: if our Paleolithic ancestors survived without niacinamide or glycolic acid, maybe today's complexions can do the same. According to several beauty bloggers, it will restore your skin's natural attractiveness and repair it. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 2025: Steel Suppliers From Mexico At Lowest Prices (Take A Look) Steel Suppliers | search ads Search Now Undo What baffles us, though, is how we can still be cavemen in the twenty-first century when the air we breathe is more contaminated than the air we exhale. Why is this trend being called a fad by many? It is not supported by any scientific evidence. There must be much more than anecdotal proof for us to support a skincare trend. Furthermore, people have been manufacturing soap since 2800 B.C. So, ditching the soap may not be the best skincare practice. Secondly, the sun's rays are far more harmful than before due to widening ozone layer depletion. Saying nada to a sunscreen may cause oxidative stress to the skin, causing more dark spots and pigmentation. And even if you find the 'caveman skin' concept appealing See a dermatologist. Instead of using facewash, use a cleanser. Aloe vera can be used as a mask and moisturizer. Only on the weekends can you go all caveman to give your skin a chance to reset. Avoid going outside in the sun during the day. Always consult your doctor Since some people are exposed to fewer possible irritants, they may find success with this method, but it may not be effective for everyone. Teens with hormonal acne should speak with a dermatologist or other skincare specialist who can offer individualized guidance and therapies depending on their unique circumstances. Kiki challenge: From rage to headache One step to a healthier you—join Times Health+ Yoga and feel the change
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
'It was probably some kind of an ambush': 17,000 years ago, a man died in a projectile weapon attack in what is now Italy
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Around 17,000 years ago, a man fell victim to a bloody ambush in what is now Italy, with an enemy launching sharp, flint-tipped projectiles that left gashes on his thigh and shin bones, a new study finds. Researchers have known about this man, called Tagliente 1, since 1973, when his remains were uncovered during excavations at the Riparo Tagliente rock shelter in northeastern Italy. But the circumstances around his death had been a mystery. Now, a new discovery of cut marks on his leg bones reveals that this hunter-gatherer had a violent death, researchers reported in the study, which was published on April 28 in the journal Scientific Reports. The finding is some of the earliest evidence of "projectile impact marks" in the human paleobiological record, the researchers wrote in the study. When Tagliente 1 was first unearthed, disturbances during the dig led to the recovery of only his lower limbs and fragments of his upper body. But he is known to have lived during the Late Epigravettian period (circa 17,000 to 14,500 years ago), just after the Last Glacial Maximum, the coldest part of the last ice age. To learn more about Tagliente 1, who died between the ages of 22 and 30 according to a 2024 analysis of his leg bones, pelvis and teeth, Vitale Sparacello, a bioarchaeologist at the University of Cagliari in Italy and a co-author of the new study, took a deeper look at the Stone Age man's remains. While analyzing 3D images of Tagliente 1's bones, he noticed three parallel lines on the left femur, or thigh bone. "My mind started running," Sparacello told Live Science. When his colleagues went to the Natural History Museum of Verona to inspect the bones themselves, they found two more marks on the tibia, or shinbone, he said. Related: Stone Age Europeans mastered spear-throwers 10,000 years earlier than we thought, study suggests Traces of Paleolithic violence are rare, the researchers said, making new finds like Tagliente 1's remains valuable for piecing together the histories of past peoples. After discovering five straight cuts on the left femur and tibia, the team used a scanning electron microscope to determine features such as the shape and depth of the grooves, which revealed that one side of each lesion was steeper than the other. Then, the researchers compared Tagliente 1's lesions with those produced during previous experiments with exact replicas of different Late Epigravettian projectile weapons on wild sheep and goat carcasses. In that study, researchers examined the marks on the animal skeletons that were caused by flint-tipped arrows, and how they differed from those produced by carnivores or decay. All analyses pointed toward four of the five lesions on Tagliente 1's bones resulting from flint-tipped projectile weapons that were thrown at high speeds. He was hit from the front and behind, suggesting that there were either multiple assailants or that he was struck while running away, the researchers found. "Well, it could be an accident, but, like, what kind of accident is that?" Sparacello said. "So it was probably some kind of an ambush attack." Tagliente 1's bones showed no sign of healing, which indicates that he died soon after the attack, the researchers noted. The lethal blow may have been where one projectile hit close to the femoral artery. RELATED STORIES —World's oldest known fort was constructed by hunter-gatherers 8,000 years ago in Siberia —Violence in the ancient Middle East spiked with the formation of states and empires, battered skulls reveal —54,000-year-old stone points are oldest evidence of bows and arrows in Europe "It's very, very possible that this was a rapid death, because once your femoral artery is pierced, you have basically a few minutes before it's too late," Sparacello said. It's impossible to know who attacked Tagliente 1, but previous research offers clues. A study published in the journal Nature in 2016 suggested that projectile weapons indicate intergroup conflict rather than other forms of violence, like personal rivalries. And while it's unknown what triggered the attack, the researchers have an idea: They think the violence was sparked because of climate change, with the receding glaciers opening up new territories and prompting competition for resources.
Sustainability Times
18-05-2025
- Science
- Sustainability Times
'History Is Wrong': Newly Discovered Ancient Tools Shatter Accepted Timeline of Civilization and Rewrite Humanity's Deep Past
IN A NUTSHELL 🌊 Archaeologists discovered stone tools in Southeast Asia, indicating the region's ancient seafaring prowess. discovered stone tools in Southeast Asia, indicating the region's ancient seafaring prowess. 🛠️ The tools reveal advanced boatbuilding and open-sea fishing technologies dating back 40,000 years. and open-sea fishing technologies dating back 40,000 years. 🔍 The findings challenge the belief that Paleolithic technological progress was centered in Europe and Africa. 🌍 Southeast Asia is positioned as a historical hub of innovation and maritime expertise. In recent archaeological discoveries, Southeast Asia has emerged as a significant player in the ancient world, particularly in terms of maritime technology. Researchers have uncovered stone tools and other artifacts that suggest the region was a technological leader in seafaring practices as far back as 40,000 years ago. These findings challenge the long-held belief that Europe and Africa were the primary centers of technological advancement during the Paleolithic era. Instead, the evidence indicates that the ancient inhabitants of the Philippines and surrounding islands were pioneers in boatbuilding and open-sea fishing, offering a fresh perspective on human history. The Importance of Stone Tools in Archaeological Research The recent discoveries in Southeast Asia revolve primarily around stone tools excavated from sites in the Philippines, Indonesia, and Timor-Leste. These tools provide crucial evidence of the technological capabilities of ancient seafarers. Unlike organic materials, which rarely survive the ravages of time, stone tools endure and offer a window into past civilizations. Researchers from Ateneo de Manila University have published findings in the Journal of Archaeological Science that challenge the prevailing notion that technological prowess during the Paleolithic era was concentrated in Africa and Europe. The study highlights how these stone tools were used not just for basic survival but also for complex tasks like plant processing. This processing involved the extraction of fibers, which were necessary for making ropes, nets, and other essential components for boatbuilding and open-sea fishing. Such sophisticated use of natural resources underscores the advanced skills possessed by the region's ancient inhabitants. 1,000-year-old relic unearthed – This stunning find rewrites the true origin story of Snow White forever Revealing a Culture of Advanced Seafaring The archaeological evidence paints a vivid picture of a robust seafaring culture in ancient Southeast Asia. The discovery of fishing hooks, gorges, net weights, and the remains of deep-ocean fish such as tuna and sharks further supports this view. These findings indicate that the ancient Southeast Asians were not only adept at constructing boats but also had a deep understanding of the ocean, including the seasonality and migration routes of various fish species. Such capabilities required well-crafted tools and materials, including strong ropes and fishing lines. The remains of large predatory pelagic fish indicate an advanced knowledge of deep-sea fishing techniques. The combination of technological innovation and maritime knowledge likely made Southeast Asia a center for technological advancements during this period, setting the stage for the rich maritime traditions that continue in the region today. 'I Held Her Skull in That Ceremony': Oxford's Shocking Use of Enslaved Woman's Remains Sparks Global Outrage Challenging Prevailing Theories of Migration The study also takes aim at the widely accepted theory that early human migrations across Southeast Asia were passive, involving drift on bamboo rafts. Instead, the researchers argue that these movements were deliberate and orchestrated by skilled navigators equipped with the necessary technology and knowledge to traverse challenging open waters. The evidence suggests that these early seafarers constructed boats using organic materials, held together by plant-based ropes, and adapted this technology for their fishing endeavors. The recognition of such advanced maritime technology in prehistoric ISEA highlights the ingenuity of early Philippine peoples and their neighbors. This discovery not only reshapes our understanding of human migration but also positions Southeast Asia as a historical hub of technological innovation and maritime expertise. « This 3-year-old just rewrote history »: her accidental discovery of a 3,500-year-old scarab amulet in Israel stuns archaeologists worldwide Implications for the History of Human Innovation The findings from Southeast Asia have significant implications for our understanding of human history. They suggest that the region was a center for technological innovation much earlier than previously believed. The advanced boatbuilding and seafaring skills of these ancient peoples demonstrate a level of sophistication that rivals, and in some cases surpasses, that of contemporaneous civilizations in Europe and Africa. This revelation invites a reevaluation of the global timeline of technological progress and highlights the importance of Southeast Asia in the narrative of human development. The ingenuity of these early seafarers laid the groundwork for the rich maritime traditions that continue to thrive in the region today. As we uncover more about these ancient innovators, we are left to ponder: What other hidden chapters of human history await discovery? Did you like it? 4.3/5 (21)
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Surprisingly Advanced Ancient Spear Tip Was Not Made by Modern Humans
Researchers have found that a spear tip carved from bone, unearthed from Russia in 2003, is as old as 80,000 years. This means the hunting weapon could not have been created by modern humans. Homo sapiens didn't venture into Europe until about 45,000 years ago, so the most likely spear-wielders in this case were the Neanderthals (Homo neanderthalensis). Although examples are still rare, it seems our ancient cousins had advanced their technologies beyond stone tools, using techniques that, until recently, had only been credited to our species. The find was explored in a new paper from a team led by archeologist Liubov Golovanova of the Laboratory of Prehistory in Russia. "The… specimen suggests that at least some groups of late Middle Paleolithic Neanderthals in Europe have started to develop bone-tipped hunting weapons," explain the authors. "They made this invention independently and without influence from early Upper Paleolithic modern humans that started to arrive to the continent much later." The spear tip joins a few other recent finds that demonstrate Neanderthals developed techniques specific to working with bone, such as scraping and flat cutting. These include a 50,000-year-old cache of bone tools from Siberia and 40,000-year-old leather-softening tools from Europe. Bone tools as old as 400,000 years have also been found in Italy. This is about when Neanderthals first emerged, so it is possible this technology existed even before them. But the level of craftsmanship of these really early bone tools is not as advanced as those found in Europe after modern humans arrived, Golovanova and team note. The scarcity of Neanderthal bone tools, compared to stone ones, may be due to decay over time, without specific environmental conditions to preserve them. The Mezmaiskaya Cave, where the spear tip was found amongst a variety of animal remains, stone tools and signs of a campfire, likely provided the conditions required for the bone's long-term preservation. "The preservation of bones is exceptional at Mezmaiskaya Cave," the researchers write. "No evidence of weathering, chemical dissolution, sediment abrasion, root etching, or trampling have been observed on the specimen, indicating that post-depositional alteration or destruction did not affect the surfaces of the bone tool." Golovanova and team identified cracks in the Neanderthal's bone spear tip during their analysis. These, as well as lack of wear, suggest the weapon had been used to successfully strike something soon after it was carved and bound to a wooden shaft using tar. The bone was likely once part of a bison. This research was published in the Journal of Archaeological Science. DNA Reveals Surprising Twist About Christopher Columbus This 134-Year-Old Patent Reveals The Proper Way to Hang Toilet Paper Study Reveals a Simple Technique to Communicate With Your Cat
