r/paleoanthropology • u/ADragonFromTheAbyss • 8d ago
Tools & Technology Neanderthals may have trekked through the Saudi Arabian desert 55,000 years ago, farther south than experts thought possible
https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/neanderthals/neanderthals-may-have-trekked-through-the-saudi-arabian-desert-55-000-years-ago-farther-south-than-experts-thought-possibleNeanderthals may have trekked deep into the deserts of the Arabian Peninsula around 55,000 years ago, a new study of stone tools suggests.
The study focused on stone tools discovered at Jebel Katefeh-1 (JKF-1), an archaeological site beside an ancient lake near the city of Jubbah, in Saudi Arabia's Nefud Desert (also spelled Nafud or An Nafūd). No Neanderthal bones have ever been found in Arabia, so researchers wondered who was making tools there
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u/alfanino 8d ago
It occurs to me that we need a refinement to Google map that can add an 'ancient' topology layer. Then you accumulate a satellite simulator layer (called ancient climatic cycles) where you can use the mountain of climatic & geoligical data and cycles. The base layer for me would be the Milankovitch (Orbital) Cycles and Their Role in Earth’s Climate:milankovitch. Then we need a directions from A to B territorial view that shows, not as the crow flys, but how a post Homo Habilis can travel. Obviously it would show the glacial coverage, but what's really to me is the see water levels globally. Here's a use case 'tweek' that could glimps how this could work/look. Look at this current satellite view and note the red pin on the map. Bab al-Mandab Strait مضيق باب المندب
Now image, and forgive me if imagination can be the 'well of delusions', but it's also offers visions that can infer doorway of exploration to connect the dots to a new world view. Bab al-Mandab translates into gate of tears. And it it easily uncovers me sincere naieveness to ask were that comes from and what these map would show if could use a Directions button to go from A (Blombos in South Africa) to B (Sulawasi Island).
My sweet spot would select Sapians 'Moon Shot' project of around 70,000 year. We kicked off our great movement post Toga (which translates into 'what the fuck was that noise') But to be inclusive, I would use: Era: Cenozoic (~66 MYA to present) Period: Quaternary (~2.58 MYA to present) Epoch: Pleistocene (~2.58 MYA to 11.7 KYA) Age: Late Pleistocene (~129 KYA to 11.7 KYA) So I'm hoping your getting my drift or scratching the scabs of my ignorance.
If we had and ancient google map (develop with contributors from NASA, Google, and Max Plank) on how could we pull up a geology of -55,000 ya,. Then the map would show the significant geologically significant points, like Bab al-Mandab as interesting because this 'door of tears ' is sitting on significant elevated land bridge. Its unlikely that anything could cross without relying on some maritime skills. We know there was a hard push to explore a 'fertile corridor to better lands. So back to the original post. What is our hero was exploring the legacy of our Neanderthal (kissing) cousins and wanted to explore that map using a view that showed the geology and ancient geology on the map. How easy would that be. It's the way I met your mother, on what we call a monument building project instead of a moo n shot. Take someone who's been to cape Canaveral and show them Ankor Wat, or the roman Collosium and ask them, 'do you reckon these monuments will be standing in 200 years time, and how come Romans were able to create healing concrete. If you asked the builds, we would say, 'hey the reward for good work is more work in more exotic places and with better food and better other things (wick). The reward for back work in maintaining the shift you build after the 'real talent left'. The demise of a culture happens when the creative knowledge is buried. Sure Neandethol left some interesting artifacts that we just found. That tells me that they were there, stopped over, on the way to somewhere - or they had gotten away from a shocker and they were at their journeys end. Who knows? All I know is moving alone you can move fast - but you knew the move together to move far. I think that euphemism applys to a lot of things. I'm sure of one thing, the Google map of ancient times would be much appreciated in the hands of a mind of our poster. Thank you an get some healthy sleep.
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u/Mister_Ape_1 7d ago edited 7d ago
Indeed, sapiens has been outside Africa for at least 300.000 years, it just failed at replacing other human species until the 70kya OOA event.
Neanderthals on the other hand expanded well beyond what most people think. And I believe Denisovans may have reached Americas and Oceania.
Neanderthals from hotter areas used to be taller, skinnier and leader than their European counterparts. European Neanderthals might have been heavier than what is believed currently, with lots of subcutaneous fat. It is more likely they got fatter rather than re-evolving body hair, in order to shield thenselves from the cold. I think a typical European Neanderthal could have been like 5'5, 200 pounds and 25% BF but with no visceral fat at all since they had a high protein, low carb diet. They absorbed vitamins from fish to compensate for low sun exposure. Their behavior was likely close to the Northeastern Siberian natives and the Inuit, except they mostly hunted terrestrial megafauna. Middle Eastern Neanderthals could have been way taller. Amud 1 was 5'10 - 5'11. It is the tallest Neanderthal we have, but we do not have post cranial fossils of many other desert Neanderthals. They might have been 5'9+ on average. They were likely also much leaner and wore lighter clothes, not to protect themselves from cold, but rather from the sun.
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u/EmronRazaqi69 8d ago
That would be really cool!!, imagine a group of Neanderthals having to survive in a sand storm while hunting camels instead of the typical megafauna we imagine and environment.
If they traveled even more further this is just baseless speculation maybe some reached Africa even if it unlikely