A Modest Mussel Is Making Waves
Image: A mussel shell engraved by Homo erectus between 540,000 and 430,000 years ago Credit: Wim Lustenhouwer, VU University Amsterdam Source: Kate Wong’s World’s Oldest Engraving Upends Theory of Homo sapiens Uniqueness on Observations These scratches may not look like much but they predate the existence of our species, Homo sapiens, and upend any claim [...]
By Kalliopi Monoyios
This article was published in Scientific American’s former blog network and reflects the views of the author, not necessarily those of Scientific American
On supporting science journalism
If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.
Image: A mussel shell engraved by Homo erectus between 540,000 and 430,000 years ago
Credit: Wim Lustenhouwer, VU University Amsterdam
Source: Kate Wong’s World’s Oldest Engraving Upends Theory of Homo sapiens Uniqueness on Observations
These scratches may not look like much but they predate the existence of our species, Homo sapiens, and upend any claim we have on symbolic thought, a requirement for language development. Up until this discovery, the earliest evidence of symbolic thought (as indicated by archaeological finds like cave paintings and jewelry) was well known from 40,000 year-old sites in Europe and a few exciting finds elsewhere that may push that date back to 75,000 years. But this modest mussel shell blows those dates out of the water, making it impossible that Homo sapiens created it. Rather, it comes from a Homo erectus site in Indonesia dated to between 540,000 and 430,000 years ago. Read more about this remarkable find in Kate Wong’s World’s Oldest Engraving Upends Theory of Homo sapiens Uniqueness.
It’s Time to Stand Up for Science
If you enjoyed this article, I’d like to ask for your support. Scientific American has served as an advocate for science and industry for 180 years, and right now may be the most critical moment in that two-century history.
I’ve been a Scientific American subscriber since I was 12 years old, and it helped shape the way I look at the world. SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe. I hope it does that for you, too.
If you subscribe to Scientific American, you help ensure that our coverage is centered on meaningful research and discovery; that we have the resources to report on the decisions that threaten labs across the U.S.; and that we support both budding and working scientists at a time when the value of science itself too often goes unrecognized.
In return, you get essential news, captivating podcasts, brilliant infographics, can't-miss newsletters, must-watch videos, challenging games, and the science world's best writing and reporting. You can even gift someone a subscription.
There has never been a more important time for us to stand up and show why science matters. I hope you’ll support us in that mission.
