Spiznet
Sun, Jun-25-06, 06:15
http://www.nhm.ac.uk/about-us/news/2006/june/news_8437.html
23 Jun 2006
Beads in the Natural History Museum's collection are dated to
100,000 years ago, the oldest jewellery ever found.
Graphic Shell beads have been dated to 100,000 years ago, the
oldest jewellery discovered.
The two tiny marine shells have been identified as beads that
have been artificially pierced for use as pendants or in
necklaces.
This new evidence, published in the journal Science, will help
scientists piece together the story of the evolution of modern
behaviour.
The two shells were excavated between 1931 and 1932 from the
cave of Skhul in Israel in deposits also containing early
modern human burials. Re-examining the beads
Dr Sarah James, Museum analytical geochemist, confirmed the
date of the beads from Skhul by chemically matching the
sediment stuck to one of the beads with sediments from the
human burials at Skhul, previously dated to about 100,000
years old.
Graphic Modern human skull also dated to 100,000 years ago
uncovered at the Skhul site.
'The re-examination of our collections using modern techniques
often leads to new discoveries,' said Professor Chris
Stringer, Head of Human Origins at the Natural History Museum.
'We have more material from Skhul, and the research into the
beads is part of a continuing restudy of this collection, in
the hope that further light will be shed on modern human
origins.' Earlier evidence of modern human behaviour
Genetic and fossil data suggest humans originated in Africa
about 200,000 years ago. This research provides more evidence
to suggest that modern human behaviour, such as art, symbolism
and complex burials, originated in Africa earlier than
previously thought and did not reach Europe until much later.
Graphic Flint uncovered at Skhul site may have been used to
pierce the holes in the beads.
'This research shows that a long lasting and widespread
bead-working tradition associated with early modern humans
extended through Africa to the Middle East well before
comparable evidence appears in Europe,' said Stringer.
'The research also supports the idea that modern human anatomy
and behaviour have deep roots in Africa and were widespread by
75,000 years ago, even though they may not have appeared in
Europe for another 35,000 years.
23 Jun 2006
Beads in the Natural History Museum's collection are dated to
100,000 years ago, the oldest jewellery ever found.
Graphic Shell beads have been dated to 100,000 years ago, the
oldest jewellery discovered.
The two tiny marine shells have been identified as beads that
have been artificially pierced for use as pendants or in
necklaces.
This new evidence, published in the journal Science, will help
scientists piece together the story of the evolution of modern
behaviour.
The two shells were excavated between 1931 and 1932 from the
cave of Skhul in Israel in deposits also containing early
modern human burials. Re-examining the beads
Dr Sarah James, Museum analytical geochemist, confirmed the
date of the beads from Skhul by chemically matching the
sediment stuck to one of the beads with sediments from the
human burials at Skhul, previously dated to about 100,000
years old.
Graphic Modern human skull also dated to 100,000 years ago
uncovered at the Skhul site.
'The re-examination of our collections using modern techniques
often leads to new discoveries,' said Professor Chris
Stringer, Head of Human Origins at the Natural History Museum.
'We have more material from Skhul, and the research into the
beads is part of a continuing restudy of this collection, in
the hope that further light will be shed on modern human
origins.' Earlier evidence of modern human behaviour
Genetic and fossil data suggest humans originated in Africa
about 200,000 years ago. This research provides more evidence
to suggest that modern human behaviour, such as art, symbolism
and complex burials, originated in Africa earlier than
previously thought and did not reach Europe until much later.
Graphic Flint uncovered at Skhul site may have been used to
pierce the holes in the beads.
'This research shows that a long lasting and widespread
bead-working tradition associated with early modern humans
extended through Africa to the Middle East well before
comparable evidence appears in Europe,' said Stringer.
'The research also supports the idea that modern human anatomy
and behaviour have deep roots in Africa and were widespread by
75,000 years ago, even though they may not have appeared in
Europe for another 35,000 years.