A new genetic analysis of archaeological finds has shown that some of the early inhabitants of Europe mysteriously disappeared by the end of the last ice age, and were largely replaced by other.
The discovery was confirmed by the analysis of dozens of ancient fossils, collected throughout Europe. Genetic replacement is likely to be the result of rapid climate change, which earlier inhabitants of Europe are unable to adapt quickly enough, says study co-author, Cosimo Post, archaeogenetic doctoral student at the University of tübingen in Germany.
The temperature change at the time was “huge compared to climate change in this century” . — told the Post. “Imagine that the environment has changed quite dramatically”.
Twisted family tree
Europe has a long and complicated genetic heritage. Genetic studies have shown that the first modern humans who came from Africa, somewhere between 40 and 70 thousand years ago, soon began to mate with local Neanderthals. At the beginning of the agricultural revolution, 10-12 thousand years ago, farmers from the Middle East walked across Europe, gradually displacing the local hunter-gatherers. thousand years ago, nomadic horsemen called Yamna came from the steppes of the present Ukraine and mingled with the local population. In addition, according to the survey for 2013, published in the journal Nature Communications . found another lost group of ancient Europeans mysteriously vanished about 4.5 thousand years ago. Continue reading
Geological research has convincingly shown that during the existence of Australopithecus the Earth’s climate became more dry, rain forests receded. Australopithecus lay in wait for the danger in open, treeless spaces. They needed to obtain food, including hunting. The lack of strong claws, teeth, adequate muscular strength has led to unique achievements, namely: the use of stone, sticks as tools and protection tools.
All in some way affected their evolution. As shown by the finds of parts of the skeletons of the Australopithecines are similar to man in structure of the several parts of the body. They moved on two legs. Over time they have adapted to changing environmental conditions.
So, the anthropoids, and fossil apes, in groups-herds, used the first tools: rocks, sticks for defense and obtaining food. But what food?
The materials of archaeological, geological and paleontological research in recent decades has shown that the Australopithecines used not only vegetable foods but also animals.
Hunting occupied a large place in the economy of the ancient people — it is an indisputable fact, but the premise of development as a form of practice originated and formed another prehuman stage of anthropogenesis. Predposlednyaya (omnivorous) originated from arboreal monkeys in the moment of transition, when they began to eat new kinds of plants growing on the ground, small animals, insects, perhaps, and the corpses of large animals and then to hunt with the stones that were originally used only in self-defense. Therefore, bone remains of animals, such as baboons, found along with the bones of Australopithecus, which bore traces of blows with blunt objects, they force you to change perspective on the nature of economic activities of the ancient hominid as a purely collecting economy. The predominance in the diet of human ancestors eating meat is a positive impact on the formation of the brain of higher fossil apes that had already been noted by F. Engels. Continue reading
Thanks to continued this year to archaeological excavations in the territory of Armenia identified a lot of unique artifacts, evidence of ancient civilizations in our land. According to Armenian archaeologists, found in the regions of Armenia artifacts worthy of decorating the richest collections of such museums as the Hermitage and the Louvre.
Director of the Institute of archaeology and Ethnography, National Academy of Sciences of Armenia Pavel Avetisyan believes this year the site plan has been successful and fruitful. He sobowale “archive” artifacts of Artashat . unique in that it was found during excavations stamps were dated to 3-4 century – the period of the Sassanids. “This year we found about 800 seals. In different parts of the settlement before that since the 70s, has uncovered such “archives” and found a huge number of similar seals, but all belonged to the end of the 2 1 century, i.e. to the pre-Christian period. The last artifacts is really new and very important facts,” – said the Director of the Institute.
According to Avetisyan, the seals were engraved portraits of kings and their names. “Now these seals are stored at the Institute of archaeology and Ethnography: they are cleared, they “work” specialists, after which they will be transferred to the Museum of history of Armenia,” he said.
Sensational printing pattern found in the ancient settlement of Aknashen. Here, archeologists discovered the residential layer, which dates to the 7th Millennium before Christ.
The artifacts found in the medieval capital of Armenia – Dvin – fragments of pottery, glass, may become a benchmark for the region. Excavations were conducted in the southern part of the hill, resulting in “open” kiln earlier period – the “iron” of a century with two air ducts. At the Western site is “open” is also part of the Arab walls of buildings, the Eastern section was occupied by burials and excavations ceased. Continue reading