Paleontologist Marie-Antoinette de Lumley presents the skull fragment of a nordic hunter, discovered at the Lazaret Cave in Nice
Posted on 09/03/2011 4:50:34 AM PDT by SunkenCiv
Part of a prehistoric skull, dating back 170,000 years, has been discovered during an archaeological dig in Nice. Experts say the discovery could reveal important clues to the evolution of humans.
Students Ludovic Dolez and Sébastian Lepvraud were working on the excavation site, Lazaret Caves, on 13th August, when they came across the partial remains of a forehead belonging to a Homo Erectus.
Paleontologist Marie-Antoinette de Lumley, who has been in charge of excavation at Lazaret since 1961, said the bone is an important find: "It belonged to a nomad hunter, less than 25 years old. He may be able to teach us more about the evolution of his successor, the Neanderthal man."
The bone was left to dry for a few days where it was discovered, before being removed for a special public announcement attended by Nice Mayor Christian Estrosi.
Archaeologists have been searching this site patiently for 50 years, unveiling more than 20,000 bone fragments from prehistoric animals.
The last human discovery in the cave was in 2009, when the molar tooth of a child was uncovered.
(Excerpt) Read more at rivieratimes.com ...
Paleontologist Marie-Antoinette de Lumley presents the skull fragment of a nordic hunter, discovered at the Lazaret Cave in Nice
170,000-years-old skull unearthed in FranceA fraction of a prehistoric skull, which is believed to be 170,000 years old, has been unearthed in a cave in the eastern suburbs of the French town of Nice. Students Ludovic Dolez and Sebastian Lepvraud were working on the excavation site, Cave of Le Lazaret, on 13th August, when they came across the partial remains of a forehead belonging to a Homo Erectus. "It belonged to a nomad hunter, less than 25 years old. He may be able to teach us more about the evolution of his successor, the Neanderthal man," Riviera Times quoted Paleontologist Marie-Antoinette de Lumley, who has been in charge of excavation at Lazaret since 1961, as saying. The bone was left to dry for a few days where it was discovered, before being removed for a special public announcement attended by Nice Mayor Christian Estrosi.
Stone Pages
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Archaeologists have been searching this site patiently for 50 years, unveiling more than 20,000 bone fragments from prehistoric animals. Occupation layers of the cave in use during marine isotopic stage 6 (186,000-127,000 years ago) were excavated during the 1970s and may demonstrate construction abilities and other organisational skills by the inhabitants at the time.
The Neandertal EnigmaFrayer's own reading of the record reveals a number of overlooked traits that clearly and specifically link the Neandertals to the Cro-Magnons. One such trait is the shape of the opening of the nerve canal in the lower jaw, a spot where dentists often give a pain-blocking injection. In many Neandertal, the upper portion of the opening is covered by a broad bony ridge, a curious feature also carried by a significant number of Cro-Magnons. But none of the alleged 'ancestors of us all' fossils from Africa have it, and it is extremely rare in modern people outside Europe." [pp 126-127]
by James Shreeve
in local libraries
|
|
|
| GGG managers are SunkenCiv, StayAt HomeMother & Ernest_at_the_Beach | |
|
|
To all -- please ping me to other topics which are appropriate for the GGG list. |
|
|
|
|
“Homo Erectus”
There’s just something odd about that phrase; I can’t quite figure out what...
While the articles can be interesting, it seems that every discovery, even of lesser proportions than earlier discoveries, always says it may lead to better info on evolution. Until they find something with real meat, they ought to tone it down due to the triteness of the statement.
They also seem to make these definitive statements like the one above - nomad hunter, under 25 years old - I guess the age might not be too hard to discover, but the nomad hunter is as much a guess as "he foraged in a finite area eating bugs, berries, worms, and anything else that would sustain him - he really like the berries the best..."
Paleontologist Marie-Antoinette de Lumley,..
I kinda expected a huge, tall, powdered wig.
No wonder they went extinct, eh? ;’)
Yeah, they really should tone down statements based on what is already known about the situation prevailing when the dead guy was still alive.
[Maybe she's a distant Blood Relative? That would be a hoot.]
Nomad hinter ...
They figured he wasn’t a farmer because there were no telltale signs from wearing a John Deer ball cap. Still, he could have been a student on spring break.
They liked ‘em meatier back then. Still works though...
Good one - I hadn't though of that.
Heck - many scientists these days can't recognize the situation prevailing around them. Other than relics and partial bones, they might be a wee uncertain about what was going on 170K+ years ago. I don't dispute that he was likely a nomad hunter, I dispute someone looking at a partial skull shard and making a definitive statement.
Yes, I am a Creationist, but I don't arbitrarily discount that some changes have occured; I just doubt the definitive statements that become different definitive statements as more is unearthed. If they stop treating it as a scientific Law, and stick to the Theory with the caveat that they are still gathering data, I find it as interesting as the next guy.
Sarcastic remarks shouldn't be part of an argument from a serious backer of a theory - look at the Global Warming debacle and how they go about "convincing" us by saying deniers are racist, dusting obvious hoaxes under the rug and acting as if there are no anomalies...
Well, if the Riviera Times prints it, than it must be true. They wouldn’t have any financial interest in having people come there and spend their money.
Since it’s local news, I suspect that they might have some interest in what happens locally, as well as in earning a living, which clearly you think is a shady enterprise. Thanks again for your continued interest in a topic that clearly doesn’t interest you enough to learn anything about it.
I’ll be as sarcastic as I like, thanks. Thanks also for the very commonplace non-sequitur about how global warming is fake, therefore no scientists have any idea about what has ever gone on in Earth’s history. You ought to tone it down due to the triteness of the statement.
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.
