Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Stone Tools Found On Crete Push Back Humans' Maritime History

Posted by timothy on 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.

4 of 176 comments (clear)

  1. They're just rocks. by Futurepower(R) · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    Those look like rocks to me, not "stone tools".

  2. Re:Interesting Article But... by carp3_noct3m · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    Totally offtopic note: I have been to crete and it is one of my favorite places in the world. There is something about visiting the place where Zeus supposedly came into being is quite cool.

    --
    "It's ok, I'm completely secure as long as my iron is off"
  3. it's a riddle by thelonious · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    What's long, hard and full of seamen? Stone tools, of course!

  4. Atlantis by troll8901 · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    Did any of them discover a moonstone?

    Nur-Ab-Sal! Nur-Ab-Sal!