Siberian Archaeology 1: Strashnaya “Scary” Cave Altai

A brief post today - one of my favourite news stories of the year, was from the Siberian Times. (See here)

 

 

In summary:

 

·         The cave is around 125 kilometres west of the more famous Denisova Cave

 

·         Fragments of an early human skull and rib were found in Pleistocene era layers in Strashnaya Cave, said to be 'no younger than 50,000 years' old, he said.

 

·         Another find, dating to at least 35,000 years ago, was a tiny fragment of finger bone - a nail phalange.

 

·         It is the first discovery of man's remains at the cave since 1989

 

·         One academic said that 'in an ideal world we would like to have the nail phalange to belong to a modern man, carrying genes of both Neanderthal and Denisovan man, and the older find (the skull) belonging to Neanderthal Man, and the oldest fragment - the rib - to be from Denisovan man.'

 

·         However, the scientist cautioned: 'Right now, however these are just my fantasies.  As we know, analysis results might turn out to be completely unexpected. But whatever the results, they will help us understand the interaction of modern humans, Neanderthals and Denisovans in the Altai territory.'

I love this guy!