Recent research suggests that Neanderthals and other extinct human lineages might have been early seafarers, reaching the Mediterranean islands thousands of years before previously believed. This discovery challenges the notion that these islands were first settled by Neolithic farmers and shepherds around 9,000 years ago. Evidence of human presence on these islands dating back to just before the Neolithic period has emerged in the last two decades, indicating a much earlier inhabitation. Stone artifacts found on various islands hint at human sites as early as 110,000 years ago, with some artifacts dating back about 170,000 years. These findings raise questions about the cognitive abilities and seafaring skills of these ancient human relatives. The research, detailed in a recent issue of the journal Science, sheds new light on the history of early human migration and exploration. Stay tuned for further updates on this intriguing discovery.
Citations
[1] https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna49843178
[2] https://www.science.org/content/article/neandertals-stone-age-people-may-have-voyaged-mediterranean
[3] https://www.aegeussociety.org/en/news/ancient-mariners-did-neanderthals-sail-to-mediterranean/
[4] https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/10/191016153642.htm
[5] https://answersingenesis.org/human-evolution/neanderthal/sailing-mediterranean-even-caveman-can-do-it/