Scientists found deliberate scratching on a fossil Pseudodon, likely an engraving made by Homo erectus at Trinil in Indonesia. (Wim Lustenhouwer, VU University Amsterdam)
Posted on 02/24/2015 1:44:07 AM PST by SunkenCiv
Perhaps even more intriguing is a single shell with what appears to be a geometric pattern—zigzagged grooves carved into the center of the outer shell. Analysis points to the patterns being carved on purpose. Again the team turned to modern mussels; they tried carving similar patterns into Potamida littoralis with a shark tooth and compared that to weathering and natural abrasions. Sure enough, their carvings were the closest matches to the ancient pattern.
“That must have been an appealing thing for Homo erectus,” says Joordens. “You can imagine sitting there with a shell in one hand and a tool in the other hand and maybe ready to open the shell for food, but then making a scratch and seeing this white line appear.”
The researchers used two dating techniques on preserved sediment in the shells to estimate their age: between 540,000 and 430,000 years old. The team also used x-rays to examine the Homo erectus bones and confirm that they came from the same rock layer as the shells. The results suggest that the Homo erectus fossils on Java aren’t quite as old as we thought they were. Still, the geometric engraving predates other examples by around 300,000 years, and the oldest Neanderthal shell tools are also much younger (about 110,000 years old).
Creation of geometric patterns could represent a higher level of creativity in Homo erectus than previously thought, or maybe such patterns aren’t the artistic masterpieces we suppose them to be.
(Excerpt) Read more at smithsonianmag.com ...
Scientists found deliberate scratching on a fossil Pseudodon, likely an engraving made by Homo erectus at Trinil in Indonesia. (Wim Lustenhouwer, VU University Amsterdam)
FR’s continue to amaze me with their scientific contributions to your postings.
They’ll stone you when you try to go home...
He was spelling out NINA on the shell. (Al Hirschfeld reference)
:’)
Why would any neanderthal want to scratch a clam?
he was just checking to see if the pen could write
Because it had an itch?
To see if they were an instant winner in the Neanderthal lottery.
Translated, it reads, “loaf of bread, gallon of milk”.
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