Archaeologists Thought These Remote Caves Were Empty, But They Found That Humans Lived Once Inside
The Daily Galaxy • • science
Key Points:
- New research reveals that humans survived the Last Glacial Maximum (25,000–19,000 years ago) not only along warmer Mediterranean coasts but also in harsh mountain caves in Serbia, challenging previous assumptions about Ice Age habitation.
- The study focuses on three caves in the Morava River basin, which were naturally sheltered and likely used intermittently by small, mobile groups rather than as permanent settlements.
- Archaeological finds include stone tools, particularly bladelets, and bone implements such as awls and needles, indicating diverse tool use for hunting, repairing, and coping with cold conditions.
- Evidence suggests human groups may have moved between inland caves and coastal areas near the Adriatic, reflecting a broader and more mobile survival strategy during this period.
- Different caves show varied usage patterns; for example, Velika Vranovica contained animal bones with predation marks, implying that humans shared the space with other predators.
