It has long been agreed that Africa was the sole cradle of human evolution. Then these bones were found in Georgia...

By Steve Connor, Science Editor
Wednesday, 9 September 2009

 

The conventional view of human evolution and how early man colonised the world has been thrown into doubt by a series of stunning palaeontological discoveries suggesting that Africa was not the sole cradle of humankind. Scientists have found a handful of ancient human skulls at an archaeological site two hours from the Georgian capital, Tbilisi, that suggest a Eurasian chapter in the long evolutionary story of man.

The skulls, jawbones and fragments of limb bones suggest that our ancient human ancestors migrated out of Africa far earlier than previously thought and spent a long evolutionary interlude in Eurasia – before moving back into Africa to complete the story of man.

Experts believe fossilised bones unearthed at the medieval village of Dmanisi in the foothills of the Caucuses, and dated to about 1.8 million years ago, are the oldest indisputable remains of humans discovered outside of Africa. 

The conventional view of human evolution and how early man colonised the world has been thrown into doubt by a series of stunning palaeontological discoveries suggesting that Africa was not the sole cradle of humankind.

Scientists have found a handful of ancient human skulls at an archaeological site two hours from the Georgian capital, Tbilisi, that suggest a Eurasian chapter in the long evolutionary story of man.

The skulls, jawbones and fragments of limb bones suggest that our ancient human ancestors migrated out of Africa far earlier than previously thought and spent a long evolutionary interlude in Eurasia – before moving back into Africa to complete the story of man.

Experts believe fossilised bones unearthed at the medieval village of Dmanisi in the foothills of the Caucuses, and dated to about 1.8 million years ago, are the oldest indisputable remains of humans discovered outside of Africa.

But what has really excited the researchers is the discovery that these early humans (or "hominins") are far more primitive-looking than the Homo erectus humans that were, until now, believed to be the first people to migrate out of Africa about 1 million years ago.

Humans may have lived outside Africa hundreds of thousands of years earlier than first thought, fossilised evidence suggests.

By Andrew Hough 

A skull found by scientists in Georgia has been dated back 1.8 million years - about 800,000 years before the first humans were thought to have left the region.

The skull was one of five remains of primitive humans found at the Dmanisi archaeological site, south-west of the Georgian capital of Tbilisi, the British Science Festival heard on Tuesday.

The fossils, two males and three females, are understood to be early Homo erectus, a forerunner of modern human.

Palaeontologist experts said the partial skeletons, which represent some of the earliest humans discovered outside Africa, challenge theories that our ancestors evolved entirely on the continent.

By David Derbyshire 

For generations, scientists have believed Africa was the cradle of mankind.

Now a stunning archaeological discovery suggests our primitive ancestors left Africa to explore the world around 800,000 years earlier than was previously thought before returning to their home continent.

It was there - hundreds of thousands of years later - that they evolved into modern humans and embarked on a second mass migration, researchers say.

Astonishing discovery: Archaeologists have unearthed six ancient skeletons dating back 1.8 million years in the hills of GeorgiaArchaeologists have unearthed six ancient skeletons dating back 1.8 million years in the hills of Georgia which threaten to overturn the theory of human evolution.The Georgian bones  - which include incredibly well preserved skulls and teeth - are the earliest humans ever found outside Africa. 

Andy Coghlan, reporter

Received wisdom that modern humans emerged in Africa then dispersed across the rest of the globe is being challenged by skulls found in Dmanisi, a site in Georgia to the south of Russia.

Analysis of the skulls suggests that instead, small numbers of very early ancestors of modern-day humans may have migrated to Europe, where they evolved into Homo erectus, the immediate predecessor of modern Homo sapiens.

Then, Homo erectus filed back into Africa before eventually making the crucial transition to Homo sapiens.

Some 1.8 million years old, the skulls resemble those of early ancestors of Homo erectus.

Reports of the find appear today in British newspapers, following a lecture yesterday by David Lordkipanidze, director general of the Georgia National Museum and head of a long-running archaeological investigation at Dmanisi.

One newspaper, The Independent, cleared the front page for its piece, which was headlined: "A skull that rewrites the history of man".

Another, the Daily Mail, led with the more provocative "Ancient skeletons discovered in Georgia threaten to overturn the theory of human evolution".

LOS ANGELES, CA.- In a spectacular display of archaeological finds, The Golden Graves of Ancient Vani, on view from July 16–October 5, 2009, at the J. Paul Getty Museum at the Getty Villa, presents more than 140 objects from one of the most celebrated archaeological sites in the Republic of Georgia, including four recently excavated bronze lamps, shown together for the first time.

Vani was an important settlement in the ancient kingdom of Colchis, a region best known as the destination of Jason and the Argonauts in their mythical quest for the Golden Fleece. Even in antiquity, Colchis was renowned as a region rich in gold, and excavations at Vani have confirmed this reputation. Prompted by reports of jewelry that came to the surface following heavy rainfall in the area, archaeologists in the late 1930s began to systematically explore Vani. Their excavations have uncovered a series of burials in which the deceased were laid to rest wearing a sumptuous array of ornaments, and have revealed that Vani was a major political and religious center.

The Golden Graves of Ancient Vani features an extraordinary array of objects, dating from the mid-fifth to mid-first centuries B.C. From an impressive variety of locally-made gold jewelry to imports from the Persian Empire and the Greek world, the ancient treasures in the exhibition reveal both the region’s rich material resources and a complex and fruitful network of interactions with neighboring peoples.

“This exhibition provides a wonderful opportunity to tell the story of this ancient temple city and give visitors a view into the complex interrelations of ancient cultures,” says Michael Brand, director of the J. Paul Getty Museum. “We are delighted to have these objects together here in Los Angeles for the very first time.”

David Lordkipanidze, director of the Georgian National Museum, adds, “We are delighted that these exquisite objects from one of Georgia’s most important archeological sites are serving as the cultural bridge between Georgian museums and American institutions such as the Getty Museum, the Smithsonian, and the Institute for the Study of the Ancient World at New York University. We are equally pleased to see the Getty Villa bejeweled by the magnificent Georgian treasures of Vani, providing audiences a glimpse into our country, its history, and rich culture. We hope this collaboration with the Getty Museum is only the beginning of a long lasting relationship between our institutions. ”

 

 

It took torrential rainfalls to show 20th century archaeologists that a 2,000-year-old trove of gold might be buried at Vani, an ancient city in western Georgia. Serious explorations began in the late 1930s and subsequent excavations revealed a series of graves containing fabulous jewelry, elaborately ornamented garments and beautifully crafted statuary and functional wares.

 

But just two years ago, another discovery unearthed a cache of metal objects, including two bronze lamps undergoing conservation at the Getty Villa. With the help of Georgian conservator Nino Kalandadze, a three-pronged fixture adorned with sculptural gods of love known as “erotes” and a lamp depicting Zeus as an eagle with his lover will join “The Golden Graves of Ancient Vani,” opening July 16 at the Villa.

 

The exhibition of about 140 objects has toured the U.S. and Europe under the auspices of the Institute for the Study of the Ancient World at New York University in partnership with the Ministry of Culture, Monuments Protection and Sport of Georgia, the Georgian National Museum and the Vani Archaeological Museum. Two other recently discovered lamps were displayed in NYU’s version of the show, but “Lamp With Erotes” and “Lamp With Zeus and Ganymede” will debut at the Getty.

The conservation project is the first to bring ancient objects directly to the Villa’s lab from an excavation site, says Jerry Podany, the Getty Museum’s senior conservator of antiquities. It’s an enormous responsibility, he says, but also an opportunity to build a relationship with Georgian colleagues.

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