Experts have included an additional capability for at least one band of hunter-gatherers: they were adept at paddling. New research indicates that certain intrepid mariners rowed from continental Europe to the island of Malta, approximately 60 miles distant, around 8,500 years ago, as reported. article in the journal Nature The discovery marks the longest recorded water crossing from that era—adding to its significance since it came before the creation of sailboats .
The researchers suggest that the canoeists utilized ocean currents and wind patterns to advance toward their destination. It’s probable that they used visual markers for navigation and potentially relied on celestial bodies like stars, as significant portions of their voyage were probably carried out during nighttime hours. Given this timeframe and assuming an approximate pace of around 2.5 miles per hour, some segment of their trip must have occurred under darkness.
"On the longest day of the year, even then these sailors would still experience several hours of darkness out at sea," explained Nicholas Vella, a researcher from the University of Malta and also a co-author of the study. press release.
Early Human Settlement
The discovery of signs of life on the island from that period was astonishing not just due to the long journey needed to get there but also because their settlement occurred roughly 1,000 years before agriculture developed. This contradicted historians' assumptions that these journeys were improbable without the advancements brought forth by agricultural technology.
Indications of human presence suggesting the period during which explorers likely arrived at Malta consisted of lithic artifacts, fireplaces, and remnants of processed food.
Eleanor Scerri, an anthropologist from the Max Planck Institute and one of the co-authors, stated in the press statement that they discovered substantial proof indicating various wild creatures still roamed freely, such as red deer which many believed had vanished much earlier. These people not only hunted these deer but also cooked them along with tortoises and birds—some species being exceptionally large and now unfortunately extinct.
Read More: When Did Early Humans Start Constructing Vessels?
Seafaring Abilities of Hunter-Gatherers
The archaeological site at Għajn Ħassana in northern Malta indicates that the utilization of marine resources was not a single occurrence. Among the findings were remnants of meals consisting of seals, various types of fish, crabs, and sea urchins, along with other forms of seafood.
These findings prompt us to consider whether other tiny, isolated Mediterranean islands had inhabitants. If they did, might their populations have interacted with one another? The discovery in Malta initiates further research into this potential for interaction and also explores how much hunting and fishing activities impacted the local environment.
"The findings extend Malta’s prehistoric timeline by a millennium and necessitate a reassessment of the maritime skills possessed by Europe's final hunter-gatherers, along with their interactions and ecological effects," Scerri stated in the announcement.
Read More: Two Distinct Ancient Human Species Roamed the Same Lakeside Area 1.5 Million Years Ago
Article Sources
Our writers at Massima Utilize peer-reviewed studies and high-quality sources for our articles, with our editors ensuring both scientific accuracy and adherence to editorial standards. Please examine the sources utilized below for this piece:
-
Nature. Hunters and gatherers embarked on seafaring journeys that reached even the most distant islands of the Mediterranean.
Prior to becoming part of the team at Discover Magazine, Paul Smaglik had an extensive career spanning more than two decades as a science writer, with particular expertise in U.S. life sciences policy and international scientific career trends. Initially starting out in newspaper journalism, he later transitioned into writing for specialized scientific periodicals. Throughout his career, his articles have been featured in well-known platforms such as Science News, Science magazine, Nature, and Scientific American.