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British Museum Researchers Uncover Evidence of Fire-Making 400,000 Years Ago in England

British Museum Researchers Uncover Evidence of Fire-Making 400,000 Years Ago in England

Scientists in Britain have discovered evidence suggesting that ancient humans were making fire as far back as 400,000 years ago, significantly earlier than previously believed. This discovery was made at a Paleolithic site in Barnham, Suffolk, where researchers found a patch of baked clay, flint hand axes fractured by intense heat, and iron pyrite fragments. These findings, published in the journal Nature, indicate that early humans in this region were capable of controlled fire-making, a skill previously thought to have been developed around 50,000 years ago by Neanderthals in northern France. The presence of iron pyrite, which does not naturally occur at the site, suggests that these early humans deliberately collected it for its spark-producing properties. The study highlights the role of fire in human evolution, aiding in survival, cooking, and social development.

New Study Suggests Diplodocus Dinosaurs May Have Been Colorful Like Birds

New Study Suggests Diplodocus Dinosaurs May Have Been Colorful Like Birds

Recent research conducted by Tess Gallagher and her team at the University of Bristol has revealed that sauropod dinosaurs, such as Diplodocus, may have been as colorful as modern birds. The study involved examining skin fossils from a sauropod, which were collected from the Mother's Day Quarry in Montana. Using a scanning electron microscope, the researchers identified structures called melanosomes in the fossilized skin. These structures are known to store melanin, which is responsible for color in skin, hair, eyes, and feathers. The presence of diverse melanosome shapes suggests that these dinosaurs could have exhibited a variety of colors, challenging the traditional view of them being uniformly gray.

Researchers Uncover 400,000-Year-Old Evidence of Fire-Making by Early Humans in Britain

Researchers Uncover 400,000-Year-Old Evidence of Fire-Making by Early Humans in Britain

A recent study published in the journal Nature reveals that researchers have discovered evidence of fire-making by early humans dating back 400,000 years in present-day England. The site, located in Suffolk, UK, contains pyrite and flint, which were likely used by Neanderthals or their ancestors to ignite fires. This discovery is considered the earliest evidence of humans starting fires, pushing back the timeline of fire-making by human ancestors by approximately 350,000 years. The presence of fire residue, stone tools like fire-cracked flint hand axes, and rare iron pyrite fragments suggest that these early humans were capable of creating fire, a skill that may have contributed to their social and cognitive evolution.

Study finds humans were making fire 400,000 years ago, far earlier than once thought

Study finds humans were making fire 400,000 years ago, far earlier than once thought

Archaeologists in Britain say they have found the earliest known evidence of deliberate fire-making, dating to around 400,000 years ago

Oldest evidence of human fire-making discovered at site in England

Oldest evidence of human fire-making discovered at site in England

By Will Dunham Dec 10 (Reuters) - Scientists have discovered the oldest-known evidence of fire-making by prehistoric humans in the English county of Suffolk - a hearth apparently made by Neanderthals about 415,000 years ago - revealing that this milestone for our evolutionary lineage occurred far

Bolivian Scientists Discover Record-Breaking Dinosaur Footprints at Carreras Pampa

Bolivian Scientists Discover Record-Breaking Dinosaur Footprints at Carreras Pampa

Scientists in Bolivia have uncovered a remarkable 18,000 dinosaur footprints and swim tracks at the Carreras Pampa site in Torotoro National Park. This discovery sets a new global benchmark for a single tracksite. The site, once an ancient coastline and travel corridor, features 16,600 footprints attributed to theropods, which are bipedal, three-toed dinosaurs from the late Cretaceous period. The footprints vary in size, with some as small as four inches, possibly indicating juvenile dinosaurs, while others exceed 12 inches. The site covers over 80,000 square feet and required significant clearing of debris and sediment to reveal the fossilized imprints. The area is unique not only for the number of tracks but also for the diversity of locomotive behaviors it preserves, including walking, running, swimming, tail-dragging, and sharp turning.

Scientists Reveal Early Humans Consumed Processed Plants Long Before Agriculture

Scientists Reveal Early Humans Consumed Processed Plants Long Before Agriculture

Recent archaeological research has uncovered evidence that early humans were consuming processed plant foods tens of thousands of years before the advent of agriculture. Published in the Journal of Archaeological Research, the study challenges the long-held belief that early human diets were primarily meat-based. Instead, it reveals that prehistoric humans across various continents were gathering, cooking, and grinding wild plants, including seeds, nuts, and starchy roots. This discovery suggests a more nutritionally diverse diet than previously understood. The research, conducted by teams from the Australian National University and the University of Toronto Mississauga, utilized archaeological data from sites in Africa, the Levant, Southeast Asia, and Australia. These sites provided evidence such as grinding stones and charred plant remains, indicating plant food preparation dating back at least 35,000 years.

New Study Reveals Early Humans Relied on Plant-Based Diets Long Before Agriculture

New Study Reveals Early Humans Relied on Plant-Based Diets Long Before Agriculture

Recent archaeological research has challenged the long-held belief that early human diets were primarily meat-based, revealing that plant-based foods played a significant role in human nutrition tens of thousands of years before the advent of agriculture. The study, published in the Journal of Archaeological Research, presents evidence from prehistoric sites across Africa, the Levant, Southeast Asia, and Australia, showing that early humans gathered, cooked, and processed wild plants. Findings include grinding stones and charred plant remains, indicating the preparation of seeds, nuts, and starchy roots. Notably, at the Ohalo II site in Israel, tools embedded with starch granules were found alongside wild wheat and barley remains, dating back 23,000 years. In Northern Australia, residues on stone tools suggest the processing of yams and seeds over 65,000 years ago. This research suggests that plant-based subsistence strategies were widespread and integral to early human diets, predating agriculture by mill...

Paleontologists Document 16,000 Dinosaur Footprints in Bolivia, Offering New Insights

Paleontologists Document 16,000 Dinosaur Footprints in Bolivia, Offering New Insights

A team of paleontologists, primarily from California's Loma Linda University, has documented 16,600 dinosaur footprints in Toro Toro National Park, Bolivia. This discovery, published in the journal PLOS One, represents the largest collection of theropod footprints globally. The footprints, dating back over 60 million years, provide a unique glimpse into dinosaur behavior, including attempts to swim. The site, once thought to be marked by supernatural creatures, is now recognized for its scientific significance. Despite the footprints' preservation, human activities such as farming and quarrying have posed threats to these ancient traces.

Scientists Discover Largest Collection of Dinosaur Footprints in Bolivia

Scientists Discover Largest Collection of Dinosaur Footprints in Bolivia

A team of paleontologists has documented 16,600 dinosaur footprints in Toro Toro National Park, Bolivia, marking the largest collection of theropod footprints ever recorded. The footprints, left by dinosaurs such as the Tyrannosaurus rex, were found in a sediment layer that suggests the area was once a coastal superhighway. The study, published in PLOS One, provides insights into dinosaur behavior and movement patterns during the Cretaceous period.

Oxford Researchers Explore Evolutionary Roots of Kissing in Primates

Oxford Researchers Explore Evolutionary Roots of Kissing in Primates

Researchers from the University of Oxford have conducted a study to explore the evolutionary origins of kissing, suggesting that this behavior may have deep roots in our primate ancestors. The study, led by Dr. Matilda Brindle, analyzed primate behavior, ancient oral microbes, and genetic links between early human groups. The researchers concluded that intimate mouth-to-mouth contact likely existed among our ancestors and even Neanderthals. The study used phylogenetic analysis to track kiss-like behaviors across primate family trees, revealing that such behaviors may have originated in a common ancestor of large apes between 21.5 and 16.9 million years ago. The research highlights the diversity of intimate behaviors in primates and suggests that kissing is not merely a cultural invention but a biological trait shared with other apes.

Scientists Discover Evidence of Prehistoric Turtle Stampede in Italy

Scientists Discover Evidence of Prehistoric Turtle Stampede in Italy

Scientists have potentially uncovered evidence of a prehistoric turtle stampede on a remote Italian cliff. The discovery was made in 2019 by rock climbers who found thousands of crescent-shaped impressions in limestone cliffs above the Adriatic near Ancona, Italy. Geologist Alessandro Montanari and his team concluded that these marks were left by sea turtles skimming the seafloor with their front flippers approximately 80 million years ago. The team suggests that seismic activity, possibly an earthquake, triggered a submarine avalanche, causing the turtles to flee in panic, leaving behind these impressions. The study, published in Cretaceous Research, acknowledges the difficulty in proving this theory and calls for ichnologists to help confirm the findings. However, some experts remain skeptical, citing the absence of certain features that would typically accompany turtle tracks.