The first fossil skeletons bearing a distinct resemblance to modern humans were discovered in caves in southwestern France. The fossils are about 35,000 years old. Older fossils of the same type have been found elsewhere in Europe, as well as in Africa, Asia, and even Australia. These early modern humans are referred to as Cro-Magnons, names for the cave where they were originally discovered. Cro-Magnons had a cranial capacity equal to that of modern humans, 1400 cubic centimeters. They are distinguished from Neanderthals by their high forehead and lack of protruding brow ridge and teeth, taller than Neanderthals; they stood about 1.8 m tall.
The oldest truly modern H. sapiens fossils yet found are about 100,000 years old and were found in Africa. Modern H. sapiens probably coexisted with the Neanderthals for about 70,000 years and with H. erectus for more than 50,000 years. As the Neanderthals declined, modern humans became more efficient hunters and home builders, and their tools became distinctly more sophisticated.
Cro-Magnon remains have been found with reindeer bones in certain areas of southern Europe. What does this fact suggest about the diet of Cro-Magnons and the environment in which they lived?
interesting topic
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