Posted on 08/08/2016 6:38:05 PM PDT by JimSEA
How smart were human-like species of the Stone Age? New research published in the Journal of Archaeological Science by a team led by paleoanthropologist April Nowell of the University of Victoria reveals surprisingly sophisticated adaptations by early humans living 250,000 years ago in a former oasis near Azraq, Jordan.
The research team from UVic and partner universities in the US and Jordan has found the oldest evidence of protein residue -- the residual remains of butchered animals including horse, rhinoceros, wild cattle and duck -- on stone tools. The discovery draws startling conclusions about how these early humans subsisted in a very demanding habitat, thousands of years before Homo sapiens first evolved in Africa.
The team excavated 10,000 stone tools over three years from what is now a desert in the northwest of Jordan, but was once a wetland that became increasingly arid habitat 250,000 years ago. The team closely examined 7,000 of these tools, including scrapers, flakes, projectile points and hand axes (commonly known as the "Swiss army knife" of the Paleolithic period), with 44 subsequently selected as candidates for testing. Of this sample, 17 tools tested positive for protein residue, i.e. blood and other animal products.
(Excerpt) Read more at sciencedaily.com ...
One of the stone tools. This one tested positive for rhino residue. Spectacular tool for our ancestors/cousins 250,000 years ago. These discoveries say a lot about human intelligence. At the same time we are discovering that many creatures around us are far smarter then we had thought they are, we're learning about an impressive primate brain power which goes way back. Natural selection often finds brain power part of the key to selection and survival.
Thanks for the post. I miss this stuff.
Bring back Sunken Civ!
Like an ancient Leatherman. Pretty awesome.
I often wonder if modern man is really any more intelligent then our ancient ancestors were. If one were to back out all the framework of knowledge that has progressed throughout civilization I doubt we could do much better.
As a species conquers nature, natural selection by intelligence diminishes leading eventually to the ultimate idiot.
I miss him too. It has been a few weeks since his last post.
I hope he is not ill.
I know he is not religious, but I said a prayer for him.
(((I don’t think he’ll mind!)))
One of the stone tools. This one tested positive for rhino residue. Spectacular tool for our ancestors/cousins 250,000 years ago.
...
And did that pre-human have any inkling that the dinner he was making back then would be examined 250,000 years in the future? Imagine what will be happening 250,000 years in our future.
Agreed. You can make the case people a hundred years ago were smarter. I was looking at an old turn of the century school curriculum, and WOW! I would probably fail!
That’s a beautiful piece of work.
I always wondered where I lost that knife.
ISIS headchoppers were here:
found in “a desert in the northwest of Jordan...17 tools tested positive for... blood”
SunkenCiv is a huge treasure and resource for FR, the best. I haven’t been around much so I didn’t notice his absence.
What happened to Sunken Civ? This is so unlike him.
Can YOU do any of these things?
If you go to his home page, you will see that his last post was in Mid-July. It looked like a normal, typical, Sunken-Civ kind of post.
I am very concerned about him.
I’m pretty sure there were plenty of idiots in past generations who could claim challenge to that title. In civilized western society they were previously taken care of through a combination of church and personal charity. Now it’s a matter of state and we not only take care of them but provide incentives for them to extend their lineage.
I don’t think they are necessarily any less intelligent than the morons of old but there sure are a lot more of them.
Obama has RINO residue on his shoes.
It’s saliva from when they are licked by RINOs
like Boozer and Bitch.
You either perfected new survival techniques or you died.
I am too. Love his posts.
I used to read everything he posted late at night.
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.