Earliest evidence of human inhabitation in Sicily dated to be 16,500 years old.

 


During excavation of a cave in Sicily, the scientists have found earliest known presence of humans in the island to be 16,500 years old. Animal bones, stone tools and charred wood were unearthed in the cave located near town of Acquedolci in Messina region.

Evidence shows that residents of the cave hunted large animals, particularly deer. They used meat for food, hides for clothing and bones to make tools. Marks and burns on the bones suggests that animals were skinned and cooked in the cave.

Stone tools found in the cave were made from flint and quartzite. These tools include scrapers, points and carving tools.

Analysis of ash found in the cave showed that the trees in Sicily during that time included maple, oak and beech. This contrasts with the icy conditions of Europe during that time.

The research was published in Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences.

Comments