PRESS-NEWS.org - Press Release Distribution
PRESS RELEASES DISTRIBUTION

Was Israel the birthplace of modern man?

Findings from Tel Aviv University archaeologists locate remains of Homo sapiens in Israel 400,000 years ago

2010-12-31
(Press-News.org) Tel Aviv ― It has long been believed that modern man emerged from the continent of Africa 200,000 years ago. Now Tel Aviv University archaeologists have uncovered evidence that Homo sapiens roamed the land now called Israel as early as 400,000 years ago ― the earliest evidence for the existence of modern man anywhere in the world.

The findings were discovered in the Qesem Cave, a pre-historic site located near Rosh Ha'ayin that was first excavated in 2000. Prof. Avi Gopher and Dr. Ran Barkai of Tel Aviv University's Department of Archaeology, who run the excavations, and Prof. Israel Hershkowitz of the university's Department of Anatomy and Anthropology and Sackler School of Medicine, together with an international team of scientists, performed a morphological analysis on eight human teeth found in the Qesem Cave.

This analysis, which included CT scans and X-rays, indicates that the size and shape of the teeth are very similar to those of modern man. The teeth found in the Qesem Cave are very similar to other evidence of modern man from Israel, dated to around 100,000 years ago, discovered in the Skhul Cave in the Carmel and Qafzeh Cave in the Lower Galilee near Nazareth. The results of the researchers' findings are being published in the American Journal of Physical Anthropology.

Reading the past

Qesem Cave is dated to a period between 400,000 and 200,000 years ago, and archaeologists working there believe that the findings indicate significant evolution in the behavior of ancient man. This period of time was crucial in the history of mankind from cultural and biological perspectives. The teeth that are being studied indicate that these changes are apparently related to evolutionary changes taking place at that time.

Prof. Gopher and Dr. Barkai noted that the findings related to the culture of those who dwelled in the Qesem Cave ― including the systematic production of flint blades; the regular use of fire; evidence of hunting, cutting and sharing of animal meat; mining raw materials to produce flint tools from subsurface sources ― reinforce the hypothesis that this was, in fact, innovative and pioneering behavior that may correspond with the appearance of modern man.

An unprecedented discovery

According to researchers, the discoveries made in the Qesem Cave may overturn the theory that modern man originated on the continent of Africa. In recent years, archaeological evidence and human skeletons found in Spain and China also undermined this proposition, but the Qesem Cave findings because of their early age is an unprecedented discovery.

Excavations at Qesem Cave continue and the researchers hope to uncover additional finds that will enable them to confirm the findings published up to now and to enhance our understanding of the evolution of mankind ― especially the emergence of modern man.

### American Friends of Tel Aviv University (www.aftau.org) supports Israel's leading, most comprehensive and most sought-after center of higher learning. Independently ranked 94th among the world's top universities for the impact of its research, TAU's innovations and discoveries are cited more often by the global scientific community than all but 10 other universities.

Internationally recognized for the scope and groundbreaking nature of its research and scholarship, Tel Aviv University consistently produces work with profound implications for the future.


ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

New technology to speed cleanup of nuclear contaminated sites

2010-12-31
CORVALLIS, Ore. – Members of the engineering faculty at Oregon State University have invented a new type of radiation detection and measurement device that will be particularly useful for cleanup of sites with radioactive contamination, making the process faster, more accurate and less expensive. A patent has been granted on this new type of radiation spectrometer, and the first production of devices will begin soon. The advance has also led to creation of a Corvallis-based spinoff company, Avicenna Instruments, based on the OSU research. The market for these instruments ...

Risk for alcoholism linked to risk for obesity

Risk for alcoholism linked to risk for obesity
2010-12-31
AUDIO: Addiction researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have noticed an unexpected link between alcoholism risk and obesity. They report when a person has a genetic risk... Click here for more information. Addiction researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have found that a risk for alcoholism also may put individuals at risk for obesity. The researchers noted that the association between a family history of alcoholism ...

GOES satellites watch 2011 approach, look back at 2010

GOES satellites watch 2011 approach, look back at 2010
2010-12-31
The GOES series of satellites keep an eye on the weather happening over the continental U.S. and eastern Pacific and Atlantic Oceans and had a busy time with wild weather in 2010. Today, GOES-13 captured one of the last images of North and South America in 2010 as the world continues to turn toward 2011. The Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite called GOES-13 satellite captured a "full-disk image" of North and South America in an image created December 30 at 1445 UTC (9:45 a.m. EST) as the world awaits the new year. The stunning image shows cloud cover associated ...

TRMM satellite sees system 98s raining on western Australia

TRMM satellite sees system 98s raining on western Australia
2010-12-31
System 98S is currently bringing rains and gusty winds to the northwestern coast of Western Australia, and NASA's Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission satellite spotted areas of moderate to heavy rainfall in the system. NASA's TRMM satellite captured an image of System 98S' rainfall when it passed overhead in space on Dec. 30 at 1310 UTC (8:10 a.m. EST). TRMM is a joint mission between NASA and the Japanese space agency JAXA that can estimate rainfall in a tropical cyclone from its vantage point in space.The heaviest rainfall was occurring over the Southern Indian Ocean ...

Consistent exercise associated with lower risk of colon cancer death

Consistent exercise associated with lower risk of colon cancer death
2010-12-31
AUDIO: It’s not news that exercise is good for your health, but scientists continue to learn more about just how beneficial regular exercise can be. Now a study led by researchers... Click here for more information. Consistent exercise is associated with a lower risk of dying from colon cancer, according to a new study led by researchers at the Siteman Cancer Center at Washington University School of Medicine and Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis. The study is among ...

Prompt Proofing Blog: New Year's Resolutions

2010-12-31
Happy New Year! The New Year is all about new beginnings. I love the idea that, with every January 1 that rolls around, I can start with a clean slate - all previous mistakes and misjudgments are forgotten and the future me will be perfect in every way. (Of course this ideal doesn't generally last past January 2 but hey...) OK, so maybe you won't always manage to lose 20lbs, pay off your credit card in full every month, call your mom once a week, go to the gym at 6:30 every morning etc. The following suggestions may, however, enable you to avoid unnecessary grammar ...

Get Organized! Professional Organizer to be Featured on Midday News

2010-12-31
Becky Esker, professional organizer and owner of Get Organized, LLC, located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa will be featured on KCRG-TV9 mid-day newscast Friday, December 31 at approximately 11:45 a.m. Becky is the forthcoming author of 2 Minute Organizing Miracles: Simple Secrets to Leading an Organized Life. Becky will show viewers "how to" tackle an organizing project and will give tips and tricks for success. Start 2011 off on the right foot by taking a few minutes out of your day to watch her demonstration. Then visit http://www.theorganizingchoice.com for even more information, ...

Semiconductor Markets in Europe - Brand-New Market Analyses

2010-12-31
Today, Global Research & Data Services is going to publish several market analyses about the semiconductor markets in Europe. We make available the following brand-new market analyses: Semiconductors - Germany Semiconductors - Austria Semiconductors - Belgium Semiconductors - Bulgaria Semiconductors - Czech Republic Semiconductors - Denmark Semiconductors - Estonia Semiconductors - Finland Semiconductors - France Semiconductors - Greece Semiconductors - Hungary Semiconductors - Ireland Semiconductors - Italy Semiconductors - Latvia Semiconductors - ...

Study Guide for the PMI Risk Management Professional Exam

2010-12-31
Abdulla J. ALkuwaiti Has introduced the first book to prepare candidates to take the new certificate titles: The Risk Management Professional. This certificate is awarded by the Project Management Institute in the USA, which is one of the most respected project bodies in the word. The Author introduced a new method for studying which he calls "memorize then understand", where he present individual concepts of risk management for the reader to memorize and then combine them n the bigger context of Risk Management for the purpose of understanding. He argues that this approach ...

A Corset Bridal Gown

2010-12-31
Did you know that corsets started becoming a staple for women around the sixteenth century? Yeah, I thought it was early than that too. However, up until that time women simply wrapped themselves up with either torn bed linens, or cloth rags. Actually the only reasons women started wearing corsets in the first place was because, they found them to be flattering for their bust lines, while accentuating boob cleavage. It wasn't until the Victorian era, did corsets wedding dresses start serving a bigger purpose. Specially made corsets, which were made by a skilled corsetier ...

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:

High-quality nanodiamonds for bioimaging and quantum sensing applications

New clinical practice guideline on the process for diagnosing Alzheimer’s disease or a related form of cognitive impairment or dementia

Evolution of fast-growing fish-eating herring in the Baltic Sea

Cryptographic protocol enables secure data sharing in the floating wind energy sector

Can drinking coffee or tea help prevent head and neck cancer?

Development of a global innovative drug in eye drop form for treating dry age-related macular degeneration

Scientists unlock secrets behind flowering of the king of fruits

Texas A&M researchers illuminate the mysteries of icy ocean worlds

Prosthetic material could help reduce infections from intravenous catheters

Can the heart heal itself? New study says it can

Microscopic discovery in cancer cells could have a big impact

Rice researchers take ‘significant leap forward’ with quantum simulation of molecular electron transfer

Breakthrough new material brings affordable, sustainable future within grasp

How everyday activities inside your home can generate energy

Inequality weakens local governance and public satisfaction, study finds

Uncovering key molecular factors behind malaria’s deadliest strain

UC Davis researchers help decode the cause of aggressive breast cancer in women of color

Researchers discovered replication hubs for human norovirus

SNU researchers develop the world’s most sensitive flexible strain sensor

Tiny, wireless antennas use light to monitor cellular communication

Neutrality has played a pivotal, but under-examined, role in international relations, new research shows

Study reveals right whales live 130 years — or more

Researchers reveal how human eyelashes promote water drainage

Pollinators most vulnerable to rising global temperatures are flies, study shows

DFG to fund eight new research units

Modern AI systems have achieved Turing's vision, but not exactly how he hoped

Quantum walk computing unlocks new potential in quantum science and technology

Construction materials and household items are a part of a long-term carbon sink called the “technosphere”

First demonstration of quantum teleportation over busy Internet cables

Disparities and gaps in breast cancer screening for women ages 40 to 49

[Press-News.org] Was Israel the birthplace of modern man?
Findings from Tel Aviv University archaeologists locate remains of Homo sapiens in Israel 400,000 years ago