Stone Tools Found On Crete Push Back Humans' Maritime History

Posted by timothy on Saturday February 20, 2010 @07:03PM from the perhaps-a-swallow-brought-them-there dept.

The New York Times reports that stone tools discovered on the Greek island of Crete, and reported last month at an academic conference, are strong evidence for rethinking the maritime capabilities of early humans. The researchers who found the tools (hand-axes, cleavers, and scrapers) estimate them to be at least 130,000 years old; if they're right, humans have been traveling long distances at sea (Crete is 200 miles from the northern African coastline) for at least several tens of thousands of years longer than earlier believed.

3 of 176 comments (clear)

Min score:

Reason:

Sort:

Obligatory ... by Webster9 · 2010-02-20 19:14 · Score: 5, Funny

132,010 BC @ 00:12 Webster9 wrote: First Post
First Post by Anonymous Coward · 2010-02-20 19:14 · Score: 5, Funny

In a related story, next to one of the axes they found a mast with the words "First Post".
But the amazing part was the -1 Offtopic heading right beside the inscription.
Re:They're just rocks. by Anonymous Coward · 2010-02-20 19:33 · Score: 5, Funny

An expert will be able to tell you very quickly if you're dealing with an actual tool
Seriously. You're just asking for a smartass remark.