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A fire pit dated to 60,000 years ago has been identified as evidence of Neanderthals‘ ability to produce tar, a material crucial for crafting tools and weapons. The discovery highlights a ringed trench design used to extract tar from rockrose (Cistus ladanifer). This tar was utilised to bind stone tools to wooden shafts, demonstrating a previously underestimated technological sophistication.

Use of Fire by Neanderthals Explored

The study was detailed in Quaternary Scientific Reviews and it was noted on Science.org by Juan Ochando, a plant biology professor at the University of Murcia, Spain, that this was the first recorded use of Cistus ladanifer by Neanderthals for tar extraction. The discovery was described as unexpected and indicative of complex behavioural traits.

The role of fire in Neanderthal communities has been well-documented for basic activities like cooking and heating. However, evidence from this site has suggested its use in advanced processes, such as tar production. Chemical and geological analysis of the pit revealed its construction involved specific layers, including minerals, guano, and plant material. The study has pointed to this complexity as proof of highly organised activities.

Tar Production Process Reconstructed

To understand the Neanderthal method, the scientists recreated the fire pit and followed inferred steps. Rockrose leaves were first placed at the base of the trench, followed by a mixture of soil and sand, and a top layer of guano. Fire was initiated using dry grasses, and after cooling, tar was collected from beneath a hardened crust. Within four hours, usable tar was produced, which was successfully used to attach a stone tool to a wooden shaft.

Adaptation to Resources Identified

This fire pit has highlighted Neanderthals’ ability to adapt to their environment by using locally available resources. Rockrose was likely abundant in the area, making it a suitable alternative to birch, another plant historically linked to tar production. The study concluded that these layered fire pits reflected the deliberate and skilful construction of tools and weapons, reinforcing the advanced capabilities of Neanderthals.

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4,000-Year-Old Maya Fish-Trapping Network Found in Belize

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November 26, 2024

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4,000-Year-Old Maya Fish-Trapping Network Found in Belize

An extensive fish-trapping network, believed to date back 4,000 years, has been discovered in Belize, shedding light on how the Maya civilisation sustained its communities through complex aquatic food systems. This research reveals that a network of ponds and earthen channels enabled ancient Maya people to secure food resources by channelling fish and other aquatic species into controlled areas. The study suggests that the network likely supported the nutritional needs of up to 15,000 individuals annually, playing a role in the growth of early Maya settlements.

Discovering a Pre-Maya Food System

The research, published in Science Advances on November 22, was led by Eleanor Harrison-Buck, an archaeologist from the University of New Hampshire, used advanced remote sensing techniques to locate 167 shallow channels and nearly 60 ponds in Belize’s Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary.

These features, mapped during the 2017 dry season, are believed to have been initially constructed by local hunter-gatherers as a means to adapt to changes in the wetland landscape brought on by a drought between 4,200 and 3,900 years ago. During this period, locals are thought to have shifted from a diet dominated by maize to one reliant on fish, turtles, mollusks, waterfowl, and amaranth seeds.

Growth of Maya Centres Through Aquatic Resource Utilisation

The fish-trapping system was used intensively from around 3,200 to 1,800 years ago, a period that coincides with the establishment of larger Maya urban and ceremonial centres. One channel, identified by the team, connects directly to the Maya centre of Chau Hiix, suggesting the system’s role in sustaining nearby populations.

Further investigation is planned, with fieldwork aimed at uncovering remnants of pre-Maya settlements in the area and additional canal systems in other Belizean wetlands and in southern Mexico. This research offers new insights into how early human communities modified their environment to ensure food security, providing a crucial resource base for the eventual rise of Maya civilisation.

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New Lunar Map Aims to Identify the Origin Impact Craters of Rock Samples

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November 26, 2024

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New Lunar Map Aims to Identify the Origin Impact Craters of Rock Samples

A geological map of the moon’s Mare Orientale basin is anticipated to advance understanding of lunar impact history and aid future sample-return missions. This map, created through research led by Kirby Runyon of the Planetary Science Institute in Tucson, Arizona, aims to identify original impact melt beneath layers of lava flows and debris. By analysing this material, scientists could accurately determine the age of the basin, estimated at approximately 3.8 billion years.

Mare Orientale’s Significance in Lunar History

Mare Orientale is located along the boundary between the moon’s near and far sides, and its structure showcases a double ring, with an outer diameter of 930 kilometres. The basin, created by a massive ancient impact, holds hardened basaltic rock formed from the original impact melt.

However, over billions of years, its surface has been buried beneath lava flows and newer craters. The newly developed map identifies areas of the original basin floor and highlights younger craters, enabling targeted sampling, as per a Phys.org report.

Potential for Precise Dating of Lunar Basins

The new map distinguishes regions likely containing original impact melt, designated as “BFsc,” and areas covered by younger geological features. Runyon explained that if samples from these regions are found to share the same age, it would validate the method of using impact melt to date other lunar basins. Such findings could illuminate the timeline of giant impacts that shaped the young solar system, providing insights into Earth’s early history.

Implications for Earth’s Impact History

The moon’s preserved impact record offers a unique opportunity to explore Earth’s violent early history, where impacts likely influenced the planet’s habitability. These events may have evaporated oceans and delayed life’s emergence.

While some models suggest complete sterilisation of Earth was unlikely, repeated impacts could have significantly altered its evolutionary trajectory. The findings from lunar samples could reshape understanding of the role these impacts played in Earth’s development and guide future exploration efforts.

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Indian Ocean Gravity Hole Could Be Linked With an Ancient Ocean

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November 26, 2024

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Indian Ocean Gravity Hole Could Be Linked With an Ancient Ocean

A vast region in the Indian Ocean, known as the “gravity hole,” has intrigued scientists since its discovery in 1948. Located in the Laccadive Sea, southwest of India, this circular area experiences significantly weaker gravitational pull, causing sea levels to drop by an astounding 348 feet compared to surrounding regions. Spanning 1.2 million square miles, the anomaly has long puzzled geophysicists, who recently made progress in uncovering its origins.

Formation Linked to Prehistoric Ocean Tethys

Research published in Geophysical Research Letters in 2023 has traced the gravity hole’s formation to events occurring over 100 million years ago. The ancient ocean Tethys, which existed between the supercontinents Laurasia and Gondwana, played a central role. According to Dr. Attreyee Ghosh, Associate Professor at the Indian Institute of Science and the co-author of the study, fragments of Tethys’ oceanic crust descended into the Earth’s mantle when Gondwana began to split apart 180 million years ago.

As these fragments sank deeper over millions of years, denser materials from the African region of the mantle were displaced. Simulations conducted using 19 computer models suggest that low-density magma plumes rose to replace the denser material, effectively reducing the mass beneath the Indian Ocean and creating the geoid low.

Verification of Findings Pending

While the study offers a compelling explanation, additional evidence is required to confirm the findings. Earthquake data is being considered to verify the presence of low-density plumes beneath the region. Scientists like Dr. Ghosh acknowledge the complexity of Earth’s mantle dynamics, as similar anomalies have been observed globally, revealing the intricate processes within the planet’s interior.

Relevance to Planetary Science

The discovery highlights the broader significance of studying subsurface phenomena for Earth and other planets. Similar mantle structures have been observed beneath Mars, underscoring the universal nature of geological processes shaping planetary bodies. This research continues to shed light on the forces that shape Earth’s unique topography, with ongoing studies offering a glimpse into the planet’s enigmatic interior.

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