Science

Ancient humans competed with vicious carnivores to sleep in caves 3,000 years ago


Prehistoric humans were forced to compete with vicious ancient carnivores to shelter in caves, a study has proved.

The rocky refuges were seen as prime real estate and nomadic groups sought shelter in them but were often forced out by bears, hyenas and wolves.

Studies of the famed Denisova cave in Siberia has revealed Homo sapiens, Neanderthals and Denisovans all inhabited the cave at some point. 

However, it was likely only short-lived, researchers claim, as the dominant predators that ruled the world 300,00 years ago would reclaim the cave, forcing the people to hit the road again. 

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Microscopic studies of 13 feet (pictured) of sediment in the cave network revealed fossil droppings left by predatory animals. Fossil animal droppings, charcoal from ancient fires and bone fragments litter the ground at the site

Microscopic studies of 13 feet (pictured) of sediment in the cave network revealed fossil droppings left by predatory animals. Fossil animal droppings, charcoal from ancient fires and bone fragments litter the ground at the site

Fossil animal droppings, charcoal from ancient fires and bone fragments litter the ground at the site, which provided the first ever physical evidence of Denisovans. 

The latest evidence from southern Siberia in Russia shows that large cave-dwelling beasts competed with ancient tribes for prime space in cave shelters.

Professor Roberts, of the University of Wollongong, said: ‘Using microscopic analyses, our latest study shows sporadic hominin visits, illustrated by traces of the use of fire such as miniscule fragments, but with continuous use of the site by cave-dwelling carnivores such as hyaenas and wolves.

Profiles of sediment showing a Denisova fossil poo gallery, including hyena, wolf and others. this, the researchers say, is evidence the humans were regularly uprooted by the animals wanting to use the cave

Profiles of sediment showing a Denisova fossil poo gallery, including hyena, wolf and others. this, the researchers say, is evidence the humans were regularly uprooted by the animals wanting to use the cave 

Studies of the famed Denisova cave (pictured) in Siberia has revealed Homo sapiens, Neanderthals and Denisovans all inhabited the cave at some point

Studies of the famed Denisova cave (pictured) in Siberia has revealed Homo sapiens, Neanderthals and Denisovans all inhabited the cave at some point

‘Fossil droppings indicate the persistent presence of non-human cave dwellers, which are very unlikely to have co-habited with humans using the cave for shelter.’

He said that implies that ancient groups probably came and went for short-lived episodes, and at all other times the cave was occupied by these large predators.

A team of Russian and Australian scientists have used state of the art geo-archaeological techniques to unearth new details of day-to-day life in the Denisova Cave complex hidden in its dirt.

Large carnivores and the early humans used the site for thousands of years.

Study lead author Dr Mike Morley, of Flinders University in Australia, said: ‘These hominin groups and large carnivores such as hyenas and wolves left a wealth of microscopic traces that illuminate the use of the cave over the last three glacial-interglacial cycles.

Microscopic studies of sediment left in the cave includes fossil droppings left by predatory animals such as hyenas and wolves (pictured)

Microscopic studies of sediment left in the cave includes fossil droppings left by predatory animals such as hyenas and wolves (pictured)

The Siberian site first came to prominence more than a decade ago with the discovery of the fossil remains of a previously unknown human group, dubbed the Denisovans(pictured, artist's impression) after the local name for the cave

The Siberian site first came to prominence more than a decade ago with the discovery of the fossil remains of a previously unknown human group, dubbed the Denisovans(pictured, artist’s impression) after the local name for the cave

‘Our results complement previous work by some of our colleagues at the site that has identified ancient DNA in the same dirt, belonging to Neanderthals and a previously unknown human group, the Denisovans, as well as a wide range of other animals.’

But it now seems that it was the animals that mostly ruled the cave space back then.

Microscopic studies of 13 feet of sediment in the cave network revealed fossil droppings left by predatory animals.

This corroborates cave paintings around ancient Eurasia showing what are thought to be prehistoric animals which likely preyed on humans.  

From their ‘micromorphology’ examination of the dirt found in Denisova Cave, the team discovered clues about the use of the cave, including fire-use by ancient humans and the presence of other animals.

The Siberian site first came to prominence more than a decade ago with the discovery of the fossil remains of a previously unknown human group, dubbed the Denisovans after the local name for the cave.

In a surprising twist, the recent discovery of a bone fragment in the cave sediments showed that a teenage girl was born of a Neanderthal mother and Denisovan father more than 90,000 years ago.

Denisovans and Neanderthals inhabited parts of Eurasia until 40,000 or 50,000 years ago, when they were replaced by modern humans.

The findings were published in the journal Scientific Reports.

Study lead author Dr Mike Morley (pictured) of Flinders University in Australia, said that large humans and prehistoric carnivores fought over the cave for thousands of years

Study lead author Dr Mike Morley (pictured) of Flinders University in Australia, said that large humans and prehistoric carnivores fought over the cave for thousands of years

WHO WERE THE DENISOVANS?

The Denisovans are an extinct species of human that appear to have lived in Siberia and even down as far as southeast Asia.

Although remains of these mysterious early humans have only been discovered at one site – the Denisova Cave in the Altai Mountains in Siberia, DNA analysis has shown they were widespread.

DNA from these early humans has been found in the genomes of modern humans over a wide area of Asia, suggesting they once covered a vast range.

DNA analysis of a fragment of pinky finger bone in 2010, (pictured) which belonged to a young girl, revealed the Denisovans were a species related to, but different from, Neanderthals.

DNA analysis of a fragment of pinky finger bone in 2010, (pictured) which belonged to a young girl, revealed the Denisovans were a species related to, but different from, Neanderthals.

They are thought to have been a sister species of the Neanderthals, who lived in western Asia and Europe at around the same time.

The two species appear to have separated from a common ancestor around 200,000 years ago, while they split from the modern human Homo sapien lineage around 600,000 years ago. 

Bone and ivory beads found in the Denisova Cave were discovered in the same sediment layers as the Denisovan fossils, leading to suggestions they had sophisticated tools and jewellery.

DNA analysis of a fragment of a fifth digit finger bone in 2010, which belonged to a young girl, revealed they were a species related to, but different from, Neanderthals.

Later genetic studies suggested that the ancient human species split away from the Neanderthals sometime between 470,000 and 190,000 years ago. 

Anthropologists have since puzzled over whether the cave had been a temporary shelter for a group of these Denisovans or it had formed a more permanent settlement.

DNA from molar teeth belonging to two other individuals, one adult male and one young female, showed they died in the cave at least 65,000 years earlier.

Other tests have suggested the tooth of the young female could be as old as 170,000 years.

A third molar is thought to have belonged to an adult male who died around 7,500 years before the girl whose pinky was discovered.



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