Ancient shells found in Israel may be humanity's oldest jewelry

[barb162]

Last update - 05:40 24/06/2006


Ancient shells found in Israel may be humanity's oldest jewelry

By The Associated Press

Ancient beads that may represent the oldest attempt by people at self-decoration have been identified from sites in Israel and Algeria, according to a report published in a scientific journal Friday.

The beads, made from shells with holes bored into them, date to around 100,000 years ago, some 25,000 years older than similar beads discovered two years ago in South Africa, researchers report in the journal Science.

"Our paper supports the scenario that modern humans in Africa developed behaviors that are considered modern quite early in time, so that in fact these people were probably not just biologically modern but also culturally and cognitively modern, at least to some degree," said study co-author Francesco d'Errico of the National Center for Scientific Research in Talence, France.

The new find involves just three shells, two from Skhul in northern Israel, which the researchers said were about 100,000 years old and one from Oued Djebbana, Algeria, estimated to be 90,000 years old. The researchers said the shells were found many miles from the sea, indicating they were brought to those locations deliberately, most likely for beadworking.
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http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/730745.html

[mike_c]

1. dupe from NYT in LBN-- what on earth does this have to do...

...with Isreali/Palestinian relations or foreign policy?

[barb162]

2. archeology pertaining to this area usually gets posted in this forum

that's what on earth.....

[mike_c]

3. in other words, nothing....

:shrug:

[Behind the Aegis]

5. Probably has about as much to do with the I/P issue as...

Rightist's dog compensated. The difference? One is used to mock Israel and made to be an example of how all Israel is, the other (this one) shows that OTHER things happen in Israel besides the occupation that impact the world around her.

[lastknowngood]

4. Are the WMDs better let Spector know

n/t

[soothsayer]

6. lol, i assumed this meant artillery!