[April Bradford]

Recent finds dispute ‘known’ human history: What a 31,000-year-old skeleton and 1.8m-year-old tooth tell us about our past​

We here at the SDC are always astounded by the discoveries that archaeologists uncover about our ancient ancestors. It seems like every few weeks, there’s a new article revealing some brand-new information about how they lived, what they ate, and what their beliefs were.

Most of this information comes to us through painstaking digging and excavation work at various ancient sites around the world. And a recent discovery in Indonesia has once again shed light on an amazing aspect of human history that we never knew existed.

A team of Australian and Indonesian archaeologists were excavating a limestone cave in East Kalimantan, Borneo – looking for evidence of ancient rock art – when they stumbled upon something quite unexpected: skeletal remains that suggest the earliest known surgical amputation.

The remains are said to have belonged to a young hunter-gatherer who was missing his lower left leg and foot. Analysis revealed that these limbs had been surgically amputated several years before the burial, which means this individual would have had to survive as an amputee in a rainforest environment – no easy feat!

The skeletal remains show the amputated lower left leg. Photograph: Tim Maloney​

Of course, this begs the question: how did our ancestors manage to perform such a complex medical procedure with none of the modern tools or knowledge that we have today? According to study author Dr Tim Maloney, it’s possible they had developed an understanding of anatomy through hunting animals: '[The hunter] survived not just as a child but as an adult amputee in this rainforest environment… [This implies] early people…had mastered complex surgical procedures allowing this person to survive after the removal of a foot and leg.'

Professor Matthew Spriggs agrees: 'We tend to forget that modern humans like us 30,000 years ago...would have had their intellectuals, their doctors, their inventors. It's likely they experimented with plant medicines and other treatments over millennia in order to stay alive.'

The 1.8m-year-old tooth was found near Orozmani, Georgia. Photograph: David Chkhikvishvili/Reuters​

This is truly amazing stuff! It comes right on the tail of a 1.8m-year-old tooth being discovered in Georgia which completely flips our understanding of human settlement. This ancient tooth is providing scientists with more evidence that the region was home to one of the earliest prehistoric human settlements in Europe – or possibly anywhere outside Africa!

History is being rewritten as we speak. We can only wonder what other life-changing 'discoveries' will come to light in the future, in what other far-flung places on this magnificent planet?

What are your thoughts, members? Are you a fan of history or archaeology?

 

[Fairanne12]

Most scientific people are not Christians. Dinosaurs were here with people. Archaeologist have found proof in South America ie Incas. The planet is about 8,000 years old. Where were the scientists millions of years ago.

 

[Big M]

Most scientific people are not Christians. Dinosaurs were here with people. Archaeologist have found proof in South America ie Incas. The planet is about 8,000 years old. Where were the scientists millions of years ago.

If the planet is only 8;000 years old how come the tooth is 1.8 million years old - huh?

 

[Fairanne12]

If the planet is only 8;000 years old how come the tooth is 1.8 million years old - huh?

You cannot believe what scientists say. They were not around then.

 

[Bazzar]

There is no human tape measure to estimate times past. We only have one reliable source of evidence and that is God's Word. Not popular with some, nevertheless, it gives a written history that has not been refuted by other genuine sources. Carbon dating has no actual measuring stick. Belief in evolution creates many more questions than it is possible to answer. You need much more faith to believe in millions of years theory when compared against the "flood" evidence clearly demonstrated, if we are open to see the sea fossils it buried on mountaintops. The "ARK" was found at Mt. Ararat, Mt Sinai has one side burnt black, Eygyptian chariot wheels were found at the Red Sea crossing, "The Ark" of the covenant is under Golgotha hill. Sodom has sulphur deposits where none exist elsewhere. Open our Eyes, we have blinkers on so we do not see it at all...

 

[Macarj]

Most scientific people are not Christians. Dinosaurs were here with people. Archaeologist have found proof in South America ie Incas. The planet is about 8,000 years old. Where were the scientists millions of years ago.

what makes you think the planet is only 8000 years old

 

[Pommyoz]

There is no human tape measure to estimate times past. We only have one reliable source of evidence and that is God's Word. Not popular with some, nevertheless, it gives a written history that has not been refuted by other genuine sources. Carbon dating has no actual measuring stick. Belief in evolution creates many more questions than it is possible to answer. You need much more faith to believe in millions of years theory when compared against the "flood" evidence clearly demonstrated, if we are open to see the sea fossils it buried on mountaintops. The "ARK" was found at Mt. Ararat, Mt Sinai has one side burnt black, Eygyptian chariot wheels were found at the Red Sea crossing, "The Ark" of the covenant is under Golgotha hill. Sodom has sulphur deposits where none exist elsewhere. Open our Eyes, we have blinkers on so we do not see it at all...

100% true. We may have the internet, encyclopaedias, hyroglyphics, masonry and very large human skeletons all proving the bible true, so unshackle your blinkers and prove it to yourself.

 

[Ricci]

I used to love watching Time Team on the tv. It was amazing what they found with their digs and what stories those finds lead to.

I just love reading the differing comments on here when there are controversial subjects like this. What people actually believe in is amazing in this day and age. Not saying who is right or wrong as I'm not even an armchair expert in these fields. It just makes me wonder what paths people have wandered down to come up with their theories.

 

[RTS]

According to God's word, the Bible, the earth was created in seven days. I was taught that could mean epochs, and the simple herding people who wrote down God's word used terms that they and others could understand.
I studied anthropology and geology in the 1970s and have followed new discoveries since then, as I find it fascinating.

 

[Ezzy]

The topic is of interest to me & always has been.

A statement was made that the world is only 8,000 years. l have read that Dinosaurs existed on Earth for 165 million years & only became extinct approx 65 million years ago.