Recent discoveries in Malta have pushed back our understanding of prehistoric seafaring capabilities, revealing that Stone Age hunter-gatherers were surprisingly skilled navigators who traversed the Mediterranean Ocean with remarkable precision.
The discovery of ancient human habitation in Malta, dating back around 8,500 years, has significant implications for our understanding of prehistoric seafaring capabilities. Researchers have found evidence of systematic seafaring by ‘Stone Age hunter-gatherers’ , who were able to traverse the Mediterranean Ocean with remarkable skill and precision.
Located in the Mediterranean Sea, Malta is a small island nation with a rich history dating back to ancient civilizations.
The country has a population of approximately 475,000 people and a capital city called 'Valletta' , which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Malta gained independence from British rule in 1964 and has since maintained a strategic location for trade and tourism.
The country's economy is driven by financial services, manufacturing, and tourism, with a strong focus on innovation and entrepreneurship.
A New Perspective on Prehistoric Seafaring
For a long time, it was believed that early humans could not regularly and intentionally cross large bodies of water. However, recent findings in Malta challenge this notion, suggesting that these hunter-gatherers were capable of making long and challenging journeys across the ocean. The discovery of sediment layers containing human habitation, ashes from hearths, stone tools, and animal remains at a site called Latnija in northern Malta provides strong evidence for their seafaring abilities.
Stone Age hunter-gatherers lived in small nomadic groups, surviving on a diet rich in fruits, nuts, and wild game.
They used stone tools, such as knives and scrapers, to hunt and prepare food.
Shelter was typically provided by natural formations like caves or overhangs.
These early humans developed complex social structures, with shared childcare and division of labor.
Their mobility allowed them to adapt to changing environments and exploit new resources.
The Journey to Malta
The team’s research suggests that the hunter-gatherers likely followed an easterly route from Sicily, taking advantage of powerful east-west ocean currents. This journey would have covered approximately 100 kilometers, a feat that was previously thought to be beyond the capabilities of prehistoric humans. The fact that they were able to make this journey with such precision and skill indicates a high level of seafaring expertise.
Insights from Ancient Canoes
The discovery of ancient canoes in northern Italy may hold clues about the type of craft used by the Malta’s Stone Age immigrants. These canoes, which date back around 7,000 years, were designed for seagoing and feature primitive outriggers that suggest a level of navigational expertise.
Genetic Evidence Supports the Seafaring Narrative
Recent genetic research has also lent support to the seafaring narrative. A DNA analysis of an 8,000-year-old individual from Tunisia reveals European hunter-gatherer ancestry, which could be linked to people coming south across the Mediterranean from Malta. This finding further supports the idea that hunter-gatherers were capable of seafaring and may have had a more extensive presence in the region than previously thought.
Implications for Our Understanding of Prehistoric Societies
The discovery of systematic seafaring by Stone Age hunter-gatherers has significant implications for our understanding of prehistoric societies. It suggests that these groups were not only capable of adapting to new environments but also had a high level of technological and navigational expertise. This finding brings us closer to potentially confirming exchanges of people, technologies, and ideas between the two sides of the Mediterranean earlier than previously thought.
A New Era in Understanding Prehistoric Human Migration
The discovery of ancient human habitation in Malta provides a new perspective on prehistoric human migration patterns. It highlights the importance of considering the role of seafaring in shaping the history of human societies. As we continue to uncover more evidence and insights into the lives of our ancient ancestors, we may find that their stories are even more remarkable than we ever imagined.
References
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‘Hunter-gatherer sea voyages extended to remotest Mediterranean islands’ by Scerri, E., et al. in Nature, vol. 505, no. 7487, pp. 87-80.
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‘High continuity of forager ancestry in the Neolithic period of the eastern Maghreb’ by Lipson, M., et al. in Nature, vol. 505, no. 7487, pp. 86-99.
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‘The first Neolithic boats in the Mediterranean: The settlement of La Marmotta (Anguillara Sabazia, Lazio, Italy)’ by Gibaja, J.F., et al. in PLOS ONE, vol. 10, no. 3, e0299765.
About the Author
Michael Marshall is a science journalist and archaeologist with a passion for uncovering the stories of our ancient ancestors.
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