New discoveries show early humans lived in the frigid north alongside Neanderthals

[Judi Lynn]

Ancient human bones and a stone-age ropemaking tool are re-writing human history

Amanda Buckiewicz · CBC News · Posted: Feb 02, 2024 2:25 PM CST | Last Updated: February 2


Several recent discoveries unveiled this week are shedding light on the lives of ancient humans, and their inventiveness and resilience as they initially spread around the world.

First, three papers published in the journal Nature describe the discovery of human bones at a cave near Ranis, in northern Germany. Detailed analysis of the bones and sediments from the cave suggest the humans were there 45,000 years ago, surprising archaeologists who previously believed humans stuck to warmer climates at the time.

"It really goes against that kind of established model of how humans were able to spread to new habitats," says Sarah Pederzani from the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology. "So it's really interesting because it shows that they were already much more adaptable than we originally thought."

In a different cave in southwestern Germany, archaeologists have uncovered a tool made out of ivory that they believe ancient humans would have used to spin rope over 35,000 years ago. The discovery was described in the journal Science.

More:
https://www.cbc.ca/radio/quirks/homo-sapiens-braved-cold-made-rope-1.7103130

[Bernardo de La Paz]

1. I heard that interview on Saturday on CBC. Great show that, Quirks & Quarks

An hour of interviews with actual scientific researchers every week. The host, Bob McDonald carefully explains the science but it is not watered down. As an aside, Radio Lab out of NYC does water down their science but they have other aspects that make it an enjoyable show too, not least of which is Robert Krulwich; it is the only show I've heard that will sometimes devote an hour to mathematics.

I think Experimental Archaeologists must have the most fun of all the archaeologists! The woman mentioned on Quirks & Quarks replicated the tool they found, experimented with several fibres and taught them how to make good rope with it so well they could make a couple of meters in ten minutes from cattail leaves.

So, the people of the time had some good technology. Rope is very very useful. Quite the invention to make such a capable tool. Genius level.

[eppur_se_muova]

2. Quite useful indeed.

https://aptv.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/eng06.sci.engin.materials.incabridge/grass-bridge/