Was ancient Cypriot cave a prehistoric diner?

Reuters ^ | Aug 19, 2009 | Michele Kambas

[decimon]

Thousands of prehistoric hippo bones found in Cyprus are adding to a growing debate on the possible role of humans in the extinction of larger animals 12,000 years ago.

First discovered by an 11-year-old boy in 1961, a tiny rock-shelter crammed with hippo remains radically rewrote archaeological accounts of when this east Mediterranean island was first visited by humans.

It has fired speculation of being the first takeaway diner used by humans to cook and possibly dispatch meat. It also adds to growing speculation, controversial in some quarters, that humans could have eaten some animals to extinction.

[SunkenCiv]

:’)

[SunkenCiv]

The crossing isn’t that short, but an aceramic culture crossed over about 8000 years ago, bringing their semi-domesticated mainland animal species with them.