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New research reveals that fossil animal debris, charcoal from old fires and bone fragments litter the ground of one of the most important sites in the world. human evolution in the world.
The latest evidence from southern Siberia shows that large cavernicolous carnivores have dominated the landscape, rivaling ancient tribes for more than 300,000 years to provide space for choice in rock shelters.
The cave Denisova, in this magnificent landscape, has been used by many. (Dr. Mike Morley, Flinders University)
A team of Russian and Australian scientists used modern geoarchaeological techniques to uncover new details of daily life in the famous Denisova Cave Complex in the Altai Mountains of Siberia.
Large carnivores such as hyenas, wolves and even bears and at least three early nomadic human groups (hominins) – Denisovans, Neanderthals and beginnings. Homo sapiens – used this famous archaeological site, say the researchers in a new Scientific reports study examining the dirt deposited in the cave complex over thousands of years.
That's Dr. Mike Morley, a researcher at Flinders University, who takes samples from the Denisova Cave complex. (Dr. Paul Goldbert, Wollongong University / EurekAlert!)
"These groups of hominins and large carnivores, such as hyenas and wolves, have left a profusion of microscopic traces that illuminate the use of the cave during the last three glacial and interglacial cycles," he said. said Dr. Mike Morley, lead author of Flinders University ARC Future.
"Our results complement the earlier work of some of our site colleagues who identified ancient DNA in the same dirt, belonging to Neanderthals and a previously unknown human group, the Denisovans, as well as a wide range of Other animals ".
But it seems now that it was the animals that dominated the cave at the time.
Microscopic studies of 3 to 4 meters of sediment left in the cave system include fossil droppings left by predatory animals such as cave hyenas, wolves and perhaps bears, many of which have been immortal in the past. 39 rock art before turning off in much of Eurasia.
These are sediment profiles showing a gallery of Denisova fossils containing hyena, wolf and other unidentified animals. (Dr. Mike Morley, Flinders University)
By examining the micromorphology of dirt found in Denisova's cave, the team uncovered clues about its use, including the use of fire by ancient humans and the presence of other animals.
The study of intact sediment blocks collected in the cave yielded information that was neither obvious nor gleaned from previous studies of ancient DNA, stone tools, or the remains of animals and plants.
Richard (Bert) Roberts, Distinguished Professor of the University of Wollongong, co-author of this new study, says this study is very important because it shows all that is possible by filtering sedimentary materials using advanced microscopy and other methods of archaeological research evidence of human and nonhuman life on Earth.
"Using microscopic analyzes, our latest study shows sporadic hominin visits, illustrated by traces of fire use such as tiny fragments, but with continued use of the site by troglodyte carnivores such as hyenas and wolves, "says Professor Roberts.
Microscopic studies of sediments left in the cave include fossil feces left by predatory animals such as hyenas and wolves. (Dr. Mike Morley, Flinders University)
"Fossil feces (coprolites) indicate the persistent presence of non-human cave dwellers, very unlikely to cohabit with humans using the cave to shelter."
This implies that ancient groups probably came and went for short episodes, and at all other times the cave was occupied by these great predators.
The Siberian site became famous more than ten years ago with the discovery of fossil remains of a previously unknown human group, nicknamed the Denisovans after the local name of the cave.
Surprisingly, the recent discovery of a bone fragment in cave sediments has shown that a teenager was born to a Neanderthal mother and father Denisovan there. is more than 90,000 years old.
The Denisovans and Neanderthals inhabited parts of Eurasia until perhaps 50,000 to 40,000 years ago, when they were replaced by modern humans ( Homo sapiens ).
The study was funded by the Australian Research Council and the Russian Foundation for Basic Research.
Top image: Ancient humans have competed with ferocious animals for Denisova Cave. Source: anibal / Adobe Stock.
This article is a press release issued by Flinders University, titled "Dishing the Dirt on an Ancient Cave." A microscopic study reveals intriguing secrets of Denisovan, "published on EurekAlert!
Source: The document Hominin and animal activities in the microstratigraphic recording of the Denisova cave (Altai Mountains, Russia) & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; & nbsp; 2019 (9: 13785) MW Morley, Goldberg P, Uliyanov VA, Kozlikin MB, Shunkov MV, Derevianko AP, Z Jacobs and RG Roberts were published in Scientific Reports DOI: 10.1038 / s41598-019-49930-3.
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