By Stephen Beech
New research indicates that humans were undertaking "remarkable" sea voyages covering more than 60 miles using basic dugout canoes around 8,000 years ago.
Scientists claim that early Mediterranean hunter-gatherers undertook extensive maritime voyages – including nocturnal travels – to reach the island of Malta prior to the arrival of the first agriculturalists.
It was widely believed that small, isolated islands represented some of the final untouched natural environments.
Prior to the advent of agriculture and the accompanying technological changes during the transition period, humans were thought incapable of reaching or living in such environments.
However, new evidence, as reported in the journal Nature Indicates that hunter-gatherers traversed at least 100 kilometers across open sea to reach Malta approximately 8,500 years ago, which was about one thousand years prior to the emergence of farming communities.
The findings were uncovered by a team headed by Professor Eleanor Scerri from the Max Planck Institute for Geoanthropology (MPI-GEA) in Germany, and the University of Malta. (Note: The content provided does not contain enough English text to be substantially paraphrased while maintaining original meaning.)
Associate Professor Nicholas Vella, who served as a study co-investigator, University of Malta , stated: "By depending on oceanic currents at the surface and dominant wind patterns, along with employing techniques like identifying landmarks and using celestial bodies for navigation, a journey covering approximately 100 kilometers seems feasible, progressing at a pace of around 4 kilometers per hour."
On the longest day of the year, even then, these sailors would still experience several hours of darkness out at sea.
The research group discovered evidence of human presence through stone implements, fireplaces, and remnants of consumed food at the cave location known as Latnija within the northern area of Mellieha in Malta.
Scerri stated, "Our research revealed significant indications of various wildlife species, such as Red Deer, which were believed to be extinct during this period."
They were hunting and preparing these deer along with tortoises and various birds, including several species that grew exceptionally large but have since gone extinct.
The research group similarly uncovered definitive proof of the utilization of oceanic resources.
Study corresponding author Dr. James Blinkhorn, of the University of Liverpool and MPI-GEA, said: “We found remains of seal, various fish, including grouper, and thousands of edible marine gastropods, crabs and sea urchins, all indisputably cooked."
The research team suggests that these discoveries also spark queries regarding the disappearance of native species on Malta and similar tiny, isolated Mediterranean islands. Additionally, they ponder if far-off Mesolithic groups might have had connections via sea travel.
Scerri stated, "These findings push back Maltese prehistory by one thousand years and necessitate a reassessment of the maritime skills possessed by Europe’s final hunter-gatherers, along with their interactions and ecological effects."
The post People traveled across seas up to 60 miles in canoes 8,000 years ago. appeared first on Massima .