| Early human use of marine resources and pigment in South Africa during the Middle Pleistocene. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 17943129 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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Genetic and anatomical evidence suggests that Homo sapiens arose in Africa between 200 and 100 thousand years (kyr) ago, and recent evidence indicates symbolic behaviour may have appeared approximately 135-75 kyr ago. From 195-130 kyr ago, the world was in a fluctuating but predominantly glacial stage (marine isotope stage MIS6); much of Africa was cooler and drier, and dated archaeological sites are rare. Here we show that by approximately 164 kyr ago (+/-12 kyr) at Pinnacle Point (on the south coast of South Africa) humans expanded their diet to include marine resources, perhaps as a response to these harsh environmental conditions. The earliest previous evidence for human use of marine resources and coastal habitats was dated to approximately 125 kyr ago. Coincident with this diet and habitat expansion is an early use and modification of pigment, probably for symbolic behaviour, as well as the production of bladelet stone tool technology, previously dated to post-70 kyr ago. Shellfish may have been crucial to the survival of these early humans as they expanded their home ranges to include coastlines and followed the shifting position of the coast when sea level fluctuated over the length of MIS6. |
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Authors:
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Curtis W Marean; Miryam Bar-Matthews; Jocelyn Bernatchez; Erich Fisher; Paul Goldberg; Andy I R Herries; Zenobia Jacobs; Antonieta Jerardino; Panagiotis Karkanas; Tom Minichillo; Peter J Nilssen; Erin Thompson; Ian Watts; Hope M Williams |
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Publication Detail:
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Type: Historical Article; Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. |
Journal Detail:
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Title: Nature Volume: 449 ISSN: 1476-4687 ISO Abbreviation: Nature Publication Date: 2007 Oct |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 2007-10-18 Completed Date: 2007-11-21 Revised Date: - |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 0410462 Medline TA: Nature Country: England |
Other Details:
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Languages: eng Pagination: 905-8 Citation Subset: IM |
Affiliation:
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Institute of Human Origins, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287-2402, USA. curtis.marean@asu.edu |
Export Citation:
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APA/MLA Format Download EndNote Download BibTex |
| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
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Animals Coloring Agents / history* Diet / history* Ecosystem* Ferric Compounds History, Ancient Human Activities / history* Humans Indian Ocean Shellfish / history* South Africa Time Factors |
| Chemical | |
Reg. No./Substance:
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0/Coloring Agents; 0/Ferric Compounds; 1309-37-1/ferric oxide |
| Comments/Corrections | |
Comment In:
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Nature. 2007 Oct 18;449(7164):793-4
[PMID:
17943109
]
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From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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