Underwater discoveries have a number of historical facts to offer, although they're frequently cloaked in mystery. It is now possible for experts to explain how a historic bridge that has drowned in a cave on the Spanish island of Mallorca can change some historical events. Researchers can use the new discovery to estimate the date of human habitation on the island thousands of years ago across the western Mediterranean Sea.
A team led by University of South Florida geologist Professor Bogdan Onac came to the conclusion that humans arrived on the Spanish island much earlier than previously believed—at least 5,600 and possibly even 6,000 years ago (roughly 4,000 BC)—in a study that was published in the journal Communications Earth & Environment. This finding put previous estimates about 2,000 years off. This discovery now aids researchers in resolving a protracted contradiction.
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Fascinating Facts About Undersea Bridges
Why the larger islands near the mainland seemed to have been populated much later than the smaller islands farther out in the Mediterranean have long baffled researchers. Professor Onac said, "It was kind of strange for me to think there was such a huge gap between [the colonization of] this group of b," in a Vice interview. When the researchers dove into the Genovesa Cave in 2000, they found a buried limestone bridge; but, due to rising sea levels, much of the cave is now underwater. This was not always the case
According to Prof. Onac and the team, there's a chance that the ancient humans used the pool in the cave as a source of water, and the animal remains might indicate that food was formerly kept cool in the cave to avoid the heat. It was once believed that humans had lived in the area for as long as 9,000 years, despite the fact that the area has been extensively examined. However, the researchers acknowledged that there were issues with the results due to inconsistent results and poor preservation of the radiocarbon-dated material, which included neighboring bones and pottery. Utilizing charcoal, ash, and bones discovered on the island, more recent research has produced a date of human occupation approximately 4,400 years ago that appears to coincide with the timeline of human presence.
The most recent study examined mineral overgrowths on the bridge in addition to an increase in a light-colored band. The scientists discovered that the bridge was constructed approximately 6,000 years ago, which is more than two thousand years older than initially thought. "This submerged bridge and other artifacts indicate a sophisticated level of activity, implying that early settlers recognized the cave's water resources and strategically built infrastructure to navigate it," Professor Onac added. This study emphasizes how crucial interdisciplinary cooperation is to revealing historical facts and expanding our comprehension of human history.
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The Undersea Bridge: A New Chapter in Human History
The ancient human built with bridge large, heavy limestone blocks over 1.3 meters (4.2 feet). It is unclear how they did it. The experts think that the people who constructed the bridge intended a dry, uninterrupted route that would link the cave's entrance to a chamber located past a lake. But once the tide levels remained there for a few centuries, the bridge’s-colored band started to form when it partially submerged. Additionally, the researchers noted that the new dates are consistent with dating phreatic overgrowth, a crust that can develop on the spear-shaped natural formations that protrude from cave floors and hang from cave roofs.
Prof. Onac noted that in order to make any inferences, they require evidence akin to that of the bridge. When the other islands in the Balearic region were colonized, however, is still a mystery. However, he thinks that because of its size and topography, Mallorca was populated first. The group will also keep investigating cave systems in order to determine preindustrial sea levels and examine how current greenhouse warming is affecting sea level rise.
What was the first boat to arrive on the islands?
The bridge in Genovesa Cave has pushed back the indicators of human life 2,000 years before then, but the most recent evidence has altered the chronology to about 4,400 years ago. The dating of 9,000 years ago could be extended by bones and pottery, but the conclusions are still theoretical due to "inconsistencies and poor preservation of radiocarbon-dated material." Nevertheless, scientists can now confirm that there were people living on the island about 6,000 years ago.
Evelyn Harper
Underwater discoveries have a number of historical facts to offer, although they're frequently cloaked in mystery. It is now possible for experts to explain how a historic bridge that has drowned in a cave on the Spanish island of Mallorca can change some historical events. Researchers can use the new discovery to estimate the date of human habitation on the island thousands of years ago across the western Mediterranean Sea.
A team led by University of South Florida geologist Professor Bogdan Onac came to the conclusion that humans arrived on the Spanish island much earlier than previously believed—at least 5,600 and possibly even 6,000 years ago (roughly 4,000 BC)—in a study that was published in the journal Communications Earth & Environment. This finding put previous estimates about 2,000 years off. This discovery now aids researchers in resolving a protracted contradiction.
Read Also: What Are the Names of the Major Greek Islands?
Fascinating Facts About Undersea Bridges
Why the larger islands near the mainland seemed to have been populated much later than the smaller islands farther out in the Mediterranean have long baffled researchers. Professor Onac said, "It was kind of strange for me to think there was such a huge gap between [the colonization of] this group of b," in a Vice interview. When the researchers dove into the Genovesa Cave in 2000, they found a buried limestone bridge; but, due to rising sea levels, much of the cave is now underwater. This was not always the case
According to Prof. Onac and the team, there's a chance that the ancient humans used the pool in the cave as a source of water, and the animal remains might indicate that food was formerly kept cool in the cave to avoid the heat. It was once believed that humans had lived in the area for as long as 9,000 years, despite the fact that the area has been extensively examined. However, the researchers acknowledged that there were issues with the results due to inconsistent results and poor preservation of the radiocarbon-dated material, which included neighboring bones and pottery. Utilizing charcoal, ash, and bones discovered on the island, more recent research has produced a date of human occupation approximately 4,400 years ago that appears to coincide with the timeline of human presence.
The most recent study examined mineral overgrowths on the bridge in addition to an increase in a light-colored band. The scientists discovered that the bridge was constructed approximately 6,000 years ago, which is more than two thousand years older than initially thought. "This submerged bridge and other artifacts indicate a sophisticated level of activity, implying that early settlers recognized the cave's water resources and strategically built infrastructure to navigate it," Professor Onac added. This study emphasizes how crucial interdisciplinary cooperation is to revealing historical facts and expanding our comprehension of human history.
Must Read: Why was Gigi Hadid arrested in the Cayman Islands?
The Undersea Bridge: A New Chapter in Human History
The ancient human built with bridge large, heavy limestone blocks over 1.3 meters (4.2 feet). It is unclear how they did it. The experts think that the people who constructed the bridge intended a dry, uninterrupted route that would link the cave's entrance to a chamber located past a lake. But once the tide levels remained there for a few centuries, the bridge’s-colored band started to form when it partially submerged. Additionally, the researchers noted that the new dates are consistent with dating phreatic overgrowth, a crust that can develop on the spear-shaped natural formations that protrude from cave floors and hang from cave roofs.
Prof. Onac noted that in order to make any inferences, they require evidence akin to that of the bridge. When the other islands in the Balearic region were colonized, however, is still a mystery. However, he thinks that because of its size and topography, Mallorca was populated first. The group will also keep investigating cave systems in order to determine preindustrial sea levels and examine how current greenhouse warming is affecting sea level rise.
What was the first boat to arrive on the islands?
The bridge in Genovesa Cave has pushed back the indicators of human life 2,000 years before then, but the most recent evidence has altered the chronology to about 4,400 years ago. The dating of 9,000 years ago could be extended by bones and pottery, but the conclusions are still theoretical due to "inconsistencies and poor preservation of radiocarbon-dated material." Nevertheless, scientists can now confirm that there were people living on the island about 6,000 years ago.