Latest news with #Paleolithic
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Science
- Daily Mail
Scientist reveal what extinct cavemen would have looked like today
Our ancient ancestors died out thousands of years ago, leaving behind nothing but fossils, a few scattered artefacts, and lingering traces in our DNA. For the last 40,000 years, Homo sapiens have been the only human species walking the Earth but what would cavemen like Neanderthals and Denisovans look like today if they had survived. has asked the experts to find out what the world might be like if they had survived. Surprisingly, they say that our distant evolutionary cousins might not be all that different to modern humans today. However, they might have had a hard time fitting in with our fast-paced, highly social societies. Dr April Noel, a Paleolithic archaeologist from the University of Victoria, told 'The idea that Neanderthals were hunched over, dim-witted individuals with no thought beyond their next meal is no longer tenable. 'At the same time, the idea that you could just slap a hat on a Neanderthal and you would not think twice about sitting next to him on the tube is also out the window.' What would they look like? Neanderthals and Denisovans are our closest ancient human relatives. The Neanderthals emerged around 400,000 years ago when they branched off from our common ancestors. Denisovans, meanwhile, are a far more elusive species of ancient humans who split from the Neanderthal evolutionary line around 430,000 years ago. If they had remained as separate species rather than going extinct, Neanderthals and Denisovans might look much the same as they did in the distant past. From the abundant fossil records, we know that Neanderthals were a little shorter than us on average, with shorter legs and wider hips. Neanderthals were very muscular and rugged, with large bodies and even larger heads. Their skulls show that they have room for a bigger brain than modern humans and would have been distinguished by a massive brow ridge and small foreheads. However, experts say they still would be clearly recognizable as fellow humans. Professor John Hawks, an anthropologist from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, told 'We don't know of any physiological traits that make Neanderthals distinct, that is, traits that don't overlap. 'Almost every physical trait in Neanderthals overlaps in its variation with ours today, at least to some extent.' That means they wouldn't look like lumbering cavemen or women, but rather like a slightly different variation of humans. Denisovans, meanwhile, are a little more of a mystery. It was only this month that scientists identified the first Denisovan skull, and besides this, there are only small fragments of bone to go on. Based on the newly identified skull, experts believe that Denisovans would have had a wide face with heavy, flat cheeks, a wide mouth, and a large nose. These bones also show that Denisovans would have been exceptionally large and muscular people, much stronger than more slender Homo sapiens. Not all that different However, experts say that Homo sapiens, Denisovans, and Neanderthals might not have remained that distinct for long. These human species interbred widely during the periods they overlapped, and many modern humans carry at least some Neanderthal and Denisovan DNA. If these species hadn't vanished, they might have continued to interbreed and further intermix our genes. Dr Hugo Zeberg, an expert on gene flow from Neanderthals and Denisovans into modern humans from the Karolinska Institute in Sweden, told 'In a way they never went extinct. We merged! 'Probably the relatively low amount of Neanderthal and Denisovan DNA in present humans reflects the fact that modern humans [Homo sapiens] were more numerous. 'But with more chances of encounters, we might have more archaic DNA present in the gene pool of modern humans.' We're still learning about how ancient genes influence modern humans, so it's hard to say what effects this mixing might produce. But Dr Zeberg points out that Denisovan genes are responsible for 'high altitude adaptation for Tibetans and some influence on lip shape in Latin American populations.' Similarly, Neanderthal and Homo Sapiens hybrids would likely have a mixture of the traits of both species such as larger heads, longer limbs, and narrower hips. Over time, some scientists believe Denisovans, Neanderthals and Homo Sapiens might have merged into a single human species with a mixture of all the traits. Dr Bence Viola, a paleoanthropologist at the University of Toronto, told 'I think it would have been impossible for Denisovans and Neanderthals to retain sufficient genetic isolation to remain a separate population. 'We know that they interbred with modern humans whenever they came into contact, and so the more contact there is, the more mixing happens – so they would have become a part of us.' Would they fit in? We don't currently know very much about how Denisovans lived, but research now shows Neanderthals might have struggled to fit in with modern society. One of the leading theories for why Homo sapiens survived while other species dropped off is that modern humans essentially 'tamed' ourselves. Modern humans developed genes that allowed us to become more sociable, develop larger social networks, and work with our fellow humans. Dr Noel says: 'Unlike their modern human contemporaries, Neanderthals lived in small, fairly isolated groups. 'If there was an accident that killed a number of their hunters or some other crisis occurred, they did not always have others to reach out to. As a result, their numbers would drop below what you need to be sustainable.' Dr Noel points out that research into Neanderthal genes suggests they were less cognitively flexible, had greater difficulties processing language, and lacked genes related to self-awareness, creativity, and behaviors intended to benefit others. 'In the highly connected world we all live in, I think Neanderthals would have been left behind, or at least, left out,' says Dr Noel. In a world where Neanderthals lived alongside other human species, this could really change the way society was structured. Professor Spikins says that while modern humans became 'tamer, more playful and more friendly to each other,' those changes came alongside 'being a bit easily led'. She adds: 'If Neanderthals were better at not "following the herd" and more of those tendencies were present, I bet much of our world would be different; they might not be easily swayed by social media!' How would the world be different? If Neanderthals and Denisovans hadn't gone extinct thousands of years ago, the world might be a very different place. From the evidence we have of these ancient species, we know that they lived in much smaller communities and had a far more limited impact on the land. In fact, Dr Zeberg points out that modern humans appear to be unique in the way that we modify the world around us through agriculture and large cities. One strange consequence of this is that a world where Homo sapiens are not dominant might mean a world without pets. There is no evidence that Neanderthals and Denisovans attempted to nurture relationships with animals through domestication - that means no horses, cats, dogs or even modern agricultural species like cattle and sheep. But with more of our relative anti-social genes, humanity may also have avoided some of its more destructive tendencies. Professor Spikins says: 'If Neanderthals had been the ones to survive, we might not have the problem we have with climate change, as their tendency to be more isolated within their separate groups might have limited how technology spread and got used, and how much the environment got exploited.'
Observer
3 days ago
- Science
- Observer
With a primitive canoe, scientists replicate prehistoric seafaring
Our species arose in Africa roughly 300,000 years ago and later trekked worldwide, eventually reaching some of Earth's most remote places. In doing so, our ancestors surmounted geographic barriers including treacherous ocean expanses. But how did they do that with only rudimentary technology available to them? Scientists now have undertaken an experimental voyage across a stretch of the East China Sea, paddling from Ushibi in eastern Taiwan to Japan's Yonaguni Island in a dugout canoe to demonstrate how such a trip may have been accomplished some 30,000 years ago as people spread to various Pacific Islands. The researchers simulated methods Paleolithic people would have used and employed replicas of tools from that prehistoric time period such as an axe and a cutting implement called an adze in fashioning the 25-foot-long (7.5-meter) canoe, named Sugime, from a Japanese cedar tree chopped down at Japan's Noto Peninsula. A crew of four men and one woman paddled the canoe on a voyage lasting more than 45 hours, traveling roughly 140 miles (225 km) across the open sea and battling one of the world's strongest ocean currents, the Kuroshio. The crew endured extreme fatigue and took a break for several hours while the canoe drifted at sea, but managed to complete a safe crossing to Yonaguni. Just as prehistoric people would have, the voyagers navigated by the sun and stars, as well as the direction of the ocean swells, though for safety's sake they were accompanied by two escort craft. Yonaguni is part of the Ryukyu chain of islands stretching from Kyushu, the southernmost of Japan's four main islands, down to Taiwan. Researcher Kunihiro Amemiya uses a period-accurate axe to chop down a Japanese cedar tree in Noto Peninsula, Japan, to make a dugout canoe for a crossing across a region of the East China Sea from Taiwan to Yonaguni Island, in this handout image released on June 25, 2025. Yousuke Kaifu/Handout via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES The researchers previously failed with attempted crossings using reed rafts and then bamboo rafts, finding that they were too slow, insufficiently durable and unable to overcome the strong ocean current. "Through the project with many failures, we have learned the difficulties of crossing the ocean, and this experience gave us a deep respect for our Paleolithic ancestors," said University of Tokyo anthropologist Yousuke Kaifu, lead author of the study published on Wednesday in the journal Science Advances. "We found that the Paleolithic people could cross the sea with the strong ocean current if they had dugout canoes and were skillful, experienced paddlers and navigators. They had to face the risk of being drifted by the strong ocean current and the possibility that they would never be able to come back to their homeland," added Kaifu, who was aboard one of the escort boats. Archeological evidence indicates that people approximately 30,000 years ago first crossed from Taiwan to some of the Ryukyu islands, which include Okinawa. But scientists had puzzled over how they could do this with the rudimentary technology of the time - no maps, no metal tools and only primitive vessels. And the Kuroshio current, comparable in strength to the Gulf Stream off Mexico, presented a particular challenge. The research was in the vein of the famous 1947 Kon-Tiki expedition in which Norwegian explorer Thor Heyerdahl carried out a much longer journey by raft from South America across the Pacific to the Polynesian islands. Heyerdahl aimed to show how prehistoric people from the Americas could have colonized Polynesia. "His theory is now countered by a series of pieces of evidence, but it was a great trial at the time. Compared to the time of the Kon-Tiki, we have more archeological and other evidence to build realistic models" of prehistoric voyages, Kaifu said. The researchers in a companion study published in the same journal used simulations of sea conditions between Taiwan and Yonaguni 30,000 years ago to examine whether such a crossing was attainable at a time when the Kuroshio was even more powerful than today. "As our paleo-ocean model simulation showed, crossing the Kuroshio was possible in ancient times, so I believe they achieved it," said physical oceanographer and study lead author Yu-Lin Chang of the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology. "However, ocean conditions were highly variable. Thus, ancient people may have encountered unpredictable weather conditions during their journey, which could have led to failure," Chang added. —Reuters
Yomiuri Shimbun
4 days ago
- Science
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Humans May Have Crossed from Taiwan to Yonaguni 30,000 Years Ago; Strategically Navigated Currents Following Sun, Stars
It is possible Paleolithic humans in a rowboat were able to cross from Taiwan to Yonaguni Island, Okinawa Prefecture, 30,000 years ago, according to an analysis by a research team from the University of Tokyo and other organizations. The team conducted an experimental voyage using a reproduction wooden boat and analyzed ocean currents using a supercomputer. As a result, they found travel across the sea would have been possible, depending on the skill of those in the boat. The result was published in the scientific journal Science Advances. Japanese ancestors are thought to have arrived from the continent via three routes: Hokkaido, Tsushima Island and the Ryukyu Islands. Arrival via the Ryukyu Islands route is believed to have taken place around 35,000 to 30,000 years ago during the late Paleolithic period. However, as Taiwan and Yonaguni Island are separated by the Kuroshio current, a strong ocean current with a speed of 1 to 2 meters per second, how they crossed the sea had been a mystery. In 2019, a research team from the National Museum of Nature and Science and other institutions conducted a 225-kilometer experimental voyage in a wooden boat made from a hollowed-out cedar tree. Five paddlers departed from the east coast of Taiwan and reached Yonaguni Island in 45 hours, navigating based on the position of the sun and stars. Later, the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology and others used a supercomputer to perform numerical simulations to investigate the conditions 30,000 years ago and found the Kuroshio current was 10%-20% faster than today. Based on the results of the experimental voyage, they conducted a hypothetical test with the boat having a maximum speed of 1.08 meters per second, and, taking into account the flow of the current, found the probability of a successful voyage would increase if the boat was paddled at an angle slightly against the Kuroshio current. 'We have discovered our ancestors were strategic explorers who understood the effects of ocean currents and used their skillful navigation techniques to cross the sea,' said University of Tokyo Prof. Yosuke Kaifu, head of the research team.
The Hindu
6 days ago
- Science
- The Hindu
Information board at Telangana's sole geo-heritage site inaugurated; presence of rock paintings, structural significance mentioned
A geo-heritage information panel board highlighting the geological importance and structural significance of the Pandavula Gutta rock formations, including their age and the presence of ancient rock paintings, was set up at the State's sole geo-heritage site in Jayashankar Bhupalpally district. The initiative, taken by the scientists of Geological Survey of India (GSI), Telangana, would allow the visitors to gain insights into the geo-heritage site and explore the geological marvel. The information panel board was inaugurated by Manju S, Director, GSI, Telangana, at Pandavula Gutta Geo-heritage site on Friday (June 27, 2025). She was accompanied by senior scientists Ramesh Samala, Ramesh Gunda, Tushar Chandra Patel and Ashok Kumar Kalabathula, a press release said. The site's geological importance lies in its unique rock formations including caves and rock shelters and the insights they provide into India's geological past. Pandavula Gutta consists of coarse-grained sandstone of the Jakaram Formation of the Mulugu Group of rocks of Pakhal Supergroup and boasts a rich history, including Paleolithic cave paintings and habitation sites from the Mesolithic to medieval periods. These rock paintings consist of of large sized animal figures viz. bison, antelope, and leopards. Besides these rock paintings, inscriptions of the Rashtrakuta period and fresco paintings of late medieval period have also been reported from these hillocks. Pandavula Gutta is a must-visit geo-tourism site endowed with natural beauty and ancient rock paintings.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Humans hurled massive mammoth tusk boomerangs 40,000 years ago
Boomerangs are some of humanity's oldest tools. In the northernmost region of Australia, 50,000-year-old cave art appears to depict Indigenous hunters throwing the weapons at prey, including kangaroos. While most associated with Australia, boomerangs are also documented around the world. One famous example was discovered in an ancient cave in southern Poland in 1985. Instead of using wood, these Early Upper Paleolithic ancestors crafted their tool from a mammoth tusk. And according to recent radiocarbon reevaluations and Bayseian probability modeling, researchers now believe the ivory weapon is even older than previously estimated. Their findings are detailed in a study published in the journal PLOS One. The conclusion comes after an international research team reviewed artifacts recovered from Obłazowa Cave, one of Poland's most important Paleolithic sites. Originally identified in 1985, Obłazowa Cave contains evidence of both Neanderthal and human activity spanning at least ten eras. Some of the most important finds relate to Homo sapiens who occupied the cave roughly 30,000 years ago. These included animal bone pendants, a potential whistle made from a snail shell, and human remains. Archaeologists at the time also unearthed a mammoth tusk boomerang estimated to date back to the same era. For nearly three decades, that specimen offered the tool's oldest known example in Europe. But after careful reexamination using more accurate radiocarbon dating methods, the boomerang's origin is likely closer to 40,000 years ago. As Interesting Engineering explains, the revised age can help researchers better contextualize an important time during the Upper Paleolithic known as the Early Aurignacian, when humans began migrating across Europe in large numbers. Even that long ago, archaeological evidence clearly shows Homo sapiens already engaging in creative, complex, and symbolic projects. These included the manufacturing of refined tools, decorative adornments and jewelry, as well as participating in elaborate ritualistic burials. At about 2.36 feet wide, the ivory boomerang wasn't designed to arc through the air and return to its user. Instead, hunters almost certainly intended the hefty weapon to accurately smack into their prey and kill it—or at least stun a creature long enough for them to close in on the target. 'From an economic perspective, creating and transporting a sizable object like the boomerang represents a unique commitment,' they wrote. 'The intentional thinning of the mammoth tusk to achieve symmetry reflects a notable investment in a context where mobility was essential. Since no ivory fragments were found at the site, the boomerang must have been crafted elsewhere and carried to Obłazowa Cave, underscoring its special status.' According to archaeologists, their latest research not only furthers their understanding of early human adaptive strategies, but highlights 'the nuanced interplay of technology, symbolism, and environmental interaction during the earliest phases of human dispersals in Central Europe.'While experts have previously confirmed the use of boomerangs at various locations including Australia, Central Europe, North Africa, and ancient Egypt, the tools were by no means ubiquitous across all cultures. This means that evidence of the weapons—let alone those carved from mammoth tusks—can serve as vital sources of information on human societal evolution.
