Freethought & Rationalism Archive

David M. Payne · 03-12-2003, 10:21 PM

this link has some interesting footprints.
Scientists in Italy have discovered 350,000-year-old tracks that may be the oldest known footprints made by Stone Age man. The prints were made by three early, upright-walking humans as they descended the treacherous side of a volcano � perhaps to escape an eruption, researchers reported in Thursday's issue of the journal Nature. Other scientists said that while the prints appear well-preserved, they add little to knowledge about human evolution, since footprints of far older human ancestors have been found.
So much (Again) for humanity being just a few thousand years old. I wonder how far from Rome and the Popes palace this volcano is.

David

malookiemaloo · 03-13-2003, 07:48 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by David M. Payne
this link has some interesting footprints.
Scientists in Italy have discovered 350,000-year-old tracks that may be the oldest known footprints made by Stone Age man. The prints were made by three early, upright-walking humans as they descended the treacherous side of a volcano � perhaps to escape an eruption, researchers reported in Thursday's issue of the journal Nature. Other scientists said that while the prints appear well-preserved, they add little to knowledge about human evolution, since footprints of far older human ancestors have been found.
So much (Again) for humanity being just a few thousand years old. I wonder how far from Rome and the Popes palace this volcano is.

David

They were probably England soccer fans trying to ignite the volcano because they were losing at half-time to get the game abandoned.

m

Kosh · 03-13-2003, 09:06 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by malookiemaloo
They were probably England soccer fans trying to ignite the volcano because they were losing at half-time to get the game abandoned.

m

Nah, they were the French, in retreat from a fight!

Strawberry · 03-13-2003, 02:46 PM

I saw that story too. The study of human origins is fascinating.

However, I think the tracks were made by Americans leaving the soccer game for the football game because they had never heard of soccer before...

lunachick · 03-14-2003, 01:05 AM

Nah. I think they were made by early dope smokers. They had manged to get themselves a doob together, but still hadn't discovered fire. They were on their way back down the volcano after using it to light up.

David M. Payne · 03-14-2003, 09:31 PM

I can't believe you guys. I post a lighthearted OP and what do I get in reply? Nothing but serious, heavy-duty responses. This is truly the no fun forum of the Sec-Web

David

PS, I wonder if the Pope knows about this blasphemous discovery?

Jeremy Pallant · 03-15-2003, 08:45 AM

I think this would be better suited to S&S.

sweep · 03-15-2003, 01:35 PM

Quote:

So much (Again) for humanity being just a few thousand years old. I wonder how far from Rome and the Popes palace this volcano is.

you need Jared Diamonds 'guns, germs and steel' David. that is if you're genuinely interested in the origins of humans. On the other hand the above quote seems to suggest a need to fortify your atheist palace.

sourdough · 03-15-2003, 06:32 PM

I've heard that oldest human setlement in Europe was excavated in Czech republic near a village called Dolni Vestonice,
its about 27.000 years old.

Coragyps · 03-15-2003, 08:01 PM

There's much older stuff than 27,000 years in Europe if you count Homo neandertalensis as part of our club - caves in Spain with remains well over 100,000 yr, as I remember, and a very complete skeleton from Dmanisi (spelling??) in the Republic of Georgia that's much older than that - it may be even H. erectus, and a million years plus. I'm too sleepy to go look it up.....

03-12-2003, 10:21 PM	#1
David M. Payne Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: The land of chain smoking, bible thumping, holy ro Posts: 1,248	How long has humanity been in Europe? this link has some interesting footprints. Scientists in Italy have discovered 350,000-year-old tracks that may be the oldest known footprints made by Stone Age man. The prints were made by three early, upright-walking humans as they descended the treacherous side of a volcano � perhaps to escape an eruption, researchers reported in Thursday's issue of the journal Nature. Other scientists said that while the prints appear well-preserved, they add little to knowledge about human evolution, since footprints of far older human ancestors have been found. So much (Again) for humanity being just a few thousand years old. I wonder how far from Rome and the Popes palace this volcano is. David

03-15-2003, 06:32 PM	#9
sourdough Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: one nation under-educated Posts: 1,233	oldest humans in Europe I've heard that oldest human setlement in Europe was excavated in Czech republic near a village called Dolni Vestonice, its about 27.000 years old.

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03-13-2003, 02:46 PM	#4
Strawberry Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Lancaster, PA/Toronto, ON, Canada Posts: 627	I saw that story too. The study of human origins is fascinating. However, I think the tracks were made by Americans leaving the soccer game for the football game because they had never heard of soccer before...

03-14-2003, 01:05 AM	#5
lunachick Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: NZ Posts: 7,895	Nah. I think they were made by early dope smokers. They had manged to get themselves a doob together, but still hadn't discovered fire. They were on their way back down the volcano after using it to light up.

03-14-2003, 09:31 PM	#6
David M. Payne Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: The land of chain smoking, bible thumping, holy ro Posts: 1,248	I can't believe you guys. I post a lighthearted OP and what do I get in reply? Nothing but serious, heavy-duty responses. This is truly the no fun forum of the Sec-Web David PS, I wonder if the Pope knows about this blasphemous discovery?

03-15-2003, 08:45 AM	#7
Jeremy Pallant Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Tucson, Arizona, USA Posts: 1,242	I think this would be better suited to S&S.

03-15-2003, 08:01 PM	#10
Coragyps Veteran Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Snyder,Texas,USA Posts: 4,411	There's much older stuff than 27,000 years in Europe if you count Homo neandertalensis as part of our club - caves in Spain with remains well over 100,000 yr, as I remember, and a very complete skeleton from Dmanisi (spelling??) in the Republic of Georgia that's much older than that - it may be even H. erectus, and a million years plus. I'm too sleepy to go look it up.....

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