Malta Human History Extended by 1,000 Years

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New research shows that hunter-gatherers first arrived in Malta about 8,500 years ago - 1,000 years earlier than previously thought.

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In order to cross 100 km of open Mediterranean Sea without sails, these early humans relied on only dugout canoes and basic navigational skills.

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Professor Eleanor Scerri from the Max Planck Institute, together with her team at the University of Malta, led the discovery.

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Stone tools, hearths and remains of cooked food were discovered in Latnija Cave, proving that early humans were on the island.

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The team discovered that these early humans hunted red deer, tortoises and birds, including some now-extinct species, and had a diverse wild diet.

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These early settlers also exploited coastal resources including marine remains such as seals, fish, crabs and sea urchins.

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It took probably more than 25 hours and involved sailing using sea currents, winds, landmarks when visible, and stars during long hours of darkness.

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The findings contradict the idea that Malta and other islands were uninhabited before farming communities settled there.

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The researchers believe that early seafaring reflects planning and connectivity among people in Mesolithic communities.

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The arrival of these early humans and their hunting practices may have contributed to the extinction of some of these animals.

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This fits within the global picture of ancient seafaring, such as those 65,000 years ago in Australia and coastal movements in the Americas.

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This study has been supported by the EU and Malta’s cultural agencies and redefines who Europe’s earliest seafarers and explorers were.

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