<< News >> Divers dig deep for the hole truth about our ancestors
Submitted by coldrum on Wednesday, 12 March 2008 Page Views: 1621
DiscoveriesCountry: Caribbean Islands Fossils from deep saltwater 'caves' show how human settlement has always upset the natural order. A pioneering study of life recorded in giant sinkholes that extend far below sea level has shown scientists the catastrophic impact that ancient communities had on their environments.By swimming down into "blue holes" - vertical caves in the landscape - scientists can travel back in time, exploring a treasure trove of fossils and gaining a new understanding of the prehistoric ecosystem.
The holes are so named because of the dramatic contrast between the dark blue saltwater of their depths and the lighter blue of the freshwater shallows around them. The holes, such as the Great Blue Hole at Lighthouse Reef Atoll, Belize, can sink to depths of more than 650ft and are typically found in the Caribbean on the Bahama Banks, as well as on and around the Yucatán Peninsula.
Expert divers and scientists recently carried out the first sophisticated excavation on a hole in the Bahamas, which provided a rare glimpse of life before humans arrived. The cave on Great Abaco Island, known as Sawmill Sink, contains a host of well-preserved fossils, many from species that are now extinct. These include the first entire skeletons found in the West Indies of a 2,500-year-old tortoise and an unusual crocodile that roamed the land, along with bones from a lizard, snakes, bats and 25 species of birds, not to mention abundant plant fossils. Diver Brian Kakuk, a consultant for the Bahamas National Museum, discovered the first Sawmill Sink fossil - the giant tortoise shell, which was in excellent condition.
But long before tourists arrived in the Bahamas, ancient humans had taken up residence on this archipelago off the coast of Florida. The subsequent disappearance of species from the fossil record offers stark evidence that the arrival of humans permanently changed - and eliminated - life on what had been isolated islands.
Read more in the Telegraph
<< Peru Finds 70 years ago: Dead Men's Heads carved on Ancient Temple
We would like to know more about this location. Please feel free to add a brief description and any relevant information in your own language.
Wir möchten mehr über diese Stätte erfahren. Bitte zögern Sie nicht, eine kurze Beschreibung und relevante Informationen in Deutsch hinzuzufügen.
Nous aimerions en savoir encore un peu sur les lieux. S'il vous plaît n'hesitez pas à ajouter une courte description et tous les renseignements pertinents dans votre propre langue.
Quisieramos informarnos un poco más de las lugares. No dude en añadir una breve descripción y otros datos relevantes en su propio idioma.