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Study Suggests Sea Travel 130,000 Years Ago

Researchers including a geologist from North Carolina State University have found tools on Crete that are supposed to be 130,000 years old. The dating was based on the rate that Crete has been rising out of the sea. The tools are said to most resemble some used in Africa 700,000 years ago.

Per the first article:

In addition, the team analyzed the layer bearing the tools and determined that the soil had been on the surface 130,000 to 190,000 years ago.

Since Crete has been an island for 5 million years the suggestion is that the users of the tools arrived on it by sea. If the dating is accurate the tools would evidence sea travel 70,000 years earlier than previously thought. The articles do not address whether the possible sea travel might have been accidental.

The findings were reported last month at a meeting of the Archaeological Institute of America. A formal report has been accepted for publication in Hesparia, the journal of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens, a supporter of the fieldwork.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/16/science/16archeo.html

http://richarddawkins.net/articles/573005-cretan-tools-point-to-130...

Tags: Crete, Humans, Jubinsky, Sea, Travel

2 members like this

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by John Jubinsky on September 2, 2011 at 3:30pm

Crete has been separated from the mainland for about 5 million years. The dating of the tools was based on the rate that Crete has been rising out of the sea. They were supposed to have been found in shelters. Neanderthal could have been accidentally swept to Crete 130,000 years ago while hanging on to a tree. Here is a brief Physorg article about it.

http://www.physorg.com/news/2011-01-cretan-tools-year-old-sea.html

Permalink Reply by John McElwain on September 11, 2011 at 8:03pm

I think that travel by water goes back further than we think; but of course it's an unfounded opinion. This is something I think I'll follow. Thanks for posting it.

Permalink Reply by John Jubinsky on September 12, 2011 at 4:37am

Any seagoing technology that existed 130,000 years ago has probably completely deteriorated by now so if any existed it might be very difficult to evidence. Glad you like the article.