Anthropology
Related: About this forumNewly discovered stone tools drag dawn of Greek archaeology back by a quarter-million years
NBC
June 2, 2023, 4:39 AM EDT / Source: Associated Press
By Associated Press
Deep in an open coal mine in southern Greece, researchers have discovered the antiquities-rich countrys oldest archaeological site, which dates to 700,000 years ago and is associated with modern humans hominin ancestors.
The find announced Thursday would drag the dawn of Greek archaeology back by as much as a quarter of a million years, although older hominin sites have been discovered elsewhere in Europe. The oldest, in Spain, dates to more than a million years ago.
The Greek site was one of five investigated in the Megalopolis area during a five-year project involving an international team of experts, a Culture Ministry statement said.
It was found to contain rough stone tools from the Lower Palaeolithic period about 3.3 million to 300,000 years ago and the remains of an extinct species of giant deer, elephants, hippopotamus, rhinoceros and a macaque monkey.
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/newly-discovered-stone-tools-drag-dawn-greek-archaeology-back-quarter-rcna87381
stopdiggin
(12,660 posts)what is a generally accepted date for hominid dispersal out of Africa?
and 2nd - what species would generally be consider the first? (OoA)
Karadeniz
(23,327 posts)might help you find more info!
GreenWave
(8,869 posts)stopdiggin
(12,660 posts)has to be a good deal of qualification to add to that statement
(I have heard of 'bottleneck' incidents proposed for populations. Extinctions?)
GreenWave
(8,869 posts)Two previous exits resulted in non-survival elsewhere. Africa was fortunately in its boom cycle to allow for a third migration.
stopdiggin
(12,660 posts)Extinctions outside of Africa. That completely makes sense. (in fact, I guess all hominid dispersals - excepting sapiens - might be considered as such .. )
Thanks again.
wnylib
(24,147 posts)I guess that's sort of true. Homo erectus, Heidelbergensis, Neanderthal, and Denisovans no longer exist as their own separate species or sub species.
But Erectus was the forerunner that the rest descended from. Neanderthal and Denisovan genes still exist in Sapiens through interbreeding. So, in a way, they all still live on in modern humans. Our forerunners went extinct as separate hominids but blended with Homo sapiens, making us "hybrids."
wnylib
(24,147 posts)Sapiens (modern humans) are the most recent ones.
Homo erectus (first upright hominids standing on two feet) were first to leave Africa. Meantime, upright hominids within Africa continued to evolve and Heidelbergensis was next. He's believed to be the common ancestor of Neanderthal and Denisovans who evolved later. Denisovans, found mostly in East and South Asia, is likely an offshoot of Neanderthal.
When Sapiens (modern humans) evolved in Africa and became the last wave to leave Africa, they interbred with Neanderthals and Denisovans. Modern humans (except for people in Sub Saharan Africa) are a mix of Sapiens, Neanderthal, and Denisovan.
Here are the hominids who left Africa and their timelines.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Early_human_migrations
Judi Lynn
(162,290 posts)Everyone knows the earth is 6,000 years old.
We must pray for them!