Thursday, March 17, 2016

Paleolithic Papers #2

Modern Humanity (Homo sapiens):

An infant was found buried with shells that are interpreted as ornamental from 74,000 years ago in Africa.

Melanesians have both Neandertal and Denisovan genes. Paper link.

It seems modern Humans and Neandertals interbred at least 5 times in the last 60,000 years.

Neandertals (Homo neanderthalensis):

Isotopic evidence shows Neandertals were omnivores.

The Sima de los Huesos hominins have been called early Neandertals now. This may spark a academic bun fight because they were declared distinct from Neandertal and Denisovan this past year.   Nature has a pop sci write up on it, too.

Homo antecessor:

The oldest known animal butchery in Europe has been discovered in Thuringa, Germany dating from 1.07 Million Years ago. This predates the Neandertals.

Pliocene/Pleistocene Olduvai Gorge Hominin Habitat:

The habitat of Paranthropus bosei and Homo habilis has been reconstructed and it was far from a paradise.

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