Saturday 27 February 2010

”Stone age” Cretans sailed the Mediterranean



At least one huge ship was built early in human history.



Joel Kontinen

"The idea of finding tools from this very early time period on Crete was about as believable as finding an iPod in King Tut's tomb." This is how Curtis Runnels, an archaeologist at Boston University, characterised a new discovery, a 13-centimetre (5 inch) hand axe.

An American-Greek research team found over 30 hand axes made from quartz as well as many other stone implements near the village of Plakias on the south west coast of Crete.

The archaeologists assume that the tools are at least 130, 000 years old. According to Thomas Strasser, who led the team, the ancient Cretans must have sailed to the island tens of thousands of years earlier than what was previously thought possible.

This is what happens time and again. Although dating methods almost always give too old dates, the search for primitive man goes further back into history with each new discovery.

According to Genesis 4, early men had a sophisticated culture. They were able to build cities, play the harp and flute, and smelt metals. "Primitive" man is an invention needed by the evolution story.

Source:

Pringle, Heather. 2010. Primitive Humans Conquered Sea, Surprising Finds Suggest. National Geographic (17 February).
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2010/02/100217-crete-primitive-humans-mariners-seafarers-mediterranean-sea/