Newly discovered stone tools drag dawn of Greek archaeology back by a quarter-million years

[Wicked Blue]

NBC

June 2, 2023, 4:39 AM EDT / Source: Associated Press
By Associated Press

Deep in an open coal mine in southern Greece, researchers have discovered the antiquities-rich country’s oldest archaeological site, which dates to 700,000 years ago and is associated with modern humans’ hominin ancestors.

The find announced Thursday would drag the dawn of Greek archaeology back by as much as a quarter of a million years, although older hominin sites have been discovered elsewhere in Europe. The oldest, in Spain, dates to more than a million years ago.

The Greek site was one of five investigated in the Megalopolis area during a five-year project involving an international team of experts, a Culture Ministry statement said.

It was found to contain rough stone tools from the Lower Palaeolithic period — about 3.3 million to 300,000 years ago — and the remains of an extinct species of giant deer, elephants, hippopotamus, rhinoceros and a macaque monkey.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/newly-discovered-stone-tools-drag-dawn-greek-archaeology-back-quarter-rcna87381

[stopdiggin]

1. question.

what is a generally accepted date for hominid dispersal out of Africa?

and 2nd - what species would generally be consider the first? (OoA)

[Karadeniz]

2. A recent post stated that there doesn't appear to be one point of origin, but five (so far). That

might help you find more info!

[GreenWave]

3. Humans went extinct out of Africa at least twice.

[stopdiggin]

4. that doesn't sound right

has to be a good deal of qualification to add to that statement

(I have heard of 'bottleneck' incidents proposed for populations. Extinctions?)

[GreenWave]

5. The most recent exit of humans from Africa is the only sustained one.

Two previous exits resulted in non-survival elsewhere. Africa was fortunately in its boom cycle to allow for a third migration.

[stopdiggin]

6. I'm sorry, I misunderstood.

Extinctions outside of Africa. That completely makes sense. (in fact, I guess all hominid dispersals - excepting sapiens - might be considered as such .. )
Thanks again.

[wnylib]

9. Hominid extinctions outside of Africa?

I guess that's sort of true. Homo erectus, Heidelbergensis, Neanderthal, and Denisovans no longer exist as their own separate species or sub species.

But Erectus was the forerunner that the rest descended from. Neanderthal and Denisovan genes still exist in Sapiens through interbreeding. So, in a way, they all still live on in modern humans. Our forerunners went extinct as separate hominids but blended with Homo sapiens, making us "hybrids."

[wnylib]

10. There were several waves of migration out of Africa.

Sapiens (modern humans) are the most recent ones.

Homo erectus (first upright hominids standing on two feet) were first to leave Africa. Meantime, upright hominids within Africa continued to evolve and Heidelbergensis was next. He's believed to be the common ancestor of Neanderthal and Denisovans who evolved later. Denisovans, found mostly in East and South Asia, is likely an offshoot of Neanderthal.

When Sapiens (modern humans) evolved in Africa and became the last wave to leave Africa, they interbred with Neanderthals and Denisovans. Modern humans (except for people in Sub Saharan Africa) are a mix of Sapiens, Neanderthal, and Denisovan.

Here are the hominids who left Africa and their timelines.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Early_human_migrations

[Judi Lynn]

7. The Devil has clouded their minds!

Everyone knows the earth is 6,000 years old.

We must pray for them!

[Wicked Blue]

8. LOL