Uncovering Ancient Human History with Cosmic Rays: Dating Evidence in Europe

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New research has revealed that stone tools found in a quarry in Ukraine were used by ancient humans over a million years ago.

The artifacts' recent dating analysis shows that hominins were present in Europe earlier than previously thought, according to archaeologist Roman Garba from the Czech Academy of Sciences in Prague. The report also indicates that the first humans in Europe migrated from east to west.

The Korolevo archaeological site, discovered in the 1970s, was initially believed to have been used for over 800,000 years. Located near the southwestern border of Ukraine with Hungary and Romania, the site has yielded 90,000 stone tools to archaeologists.

Some 90,000 stone tools made by early humans have been found at the site but no human fossils.

Some 90,000 stone tools made by early humans have been found at the site but no human fossils.

Roman Garba

The team used a new dating method to accurately determine the ages of the stone tools in the lowermost archaeological layer. This method involved analyzing radioactive particles inside mineral grains that were created by cosmic rays - charged particles that move through space and come down on Earth.

“It’s like a cosmic clock that unleashes human history,” said Garba, lead author of the study published Wednesday in the journal Nature.

The researchers recovered DNA from the bones of ancient humans to better understand the genetic roots of disease.

The researchers recovered DNA from the bones of ancient humans to better understand the genetic roots of disease.

Sayo Studio

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When cosmic rays interact with the atmosphere, they release radiation that can penetrate rock. This process creates cosmogenic nuclides or isotopes. Scientists can measure the rate of decay of these nuclides to determine how long a rock has been shielded from cosmogenic nuclides after being buried below Earth's surface, where the isotopes can't form.

Garba and his colleagues studied two nuclides, aluminum-26 and beryllium-10, which were found in quartz grains from seven pebbles in the same layer as the stone tools. By using two different calculation methods, the researchers concluded that the pebbles were 1.4 million years old.

“It’s a very complicated to process the samples,” Garba said. “You need two to three months of everyday work to grind, clean and separate the sample.”

The site was first discovered in the 1970s. Here is an archive image taken during an excavation in the mid-1980s.

The site was first discovered in the 1970s. Here is an archive image taken during an excavation in the mid-1980s.

Archaeological Institute of the NAS

Early hominins in Europe

At the open-air site, no human fossils have been discovered due to the challenging conditions for fossil preservation. The exposure to the elements makes it difficult for fossils to survive, and the acidic soil in the area can speed up the decomposition of artifacts, according to Garba.

It is uncertain which species of early human lived at the site, but the study proposed it could have been Homo erectus. Scientists think this extinct species was the first hominin to leave Africa and walk upright.

According to the study, the oldest human fossils discovered in Europe are from the Atapuerca site in Spain, dating back 1.1 million years. Human fossils found near Dmanisi in Georgia are believed to be 1.8 million years old.

The stone stools found at the Korolevo site are now securely dated. According to Briana Pobiner, a paleoanthropologist at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington, DC, who was not part of the research team, these findings help fill a gap in early hominin presence in Europe in terms of both time and space.

Josephine Schubert/Museum Burg Ranis

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Bones discovered in an 8-meter-deep pit could have a significant impact on the history of humans in Europe. The findings indicate that hominins may have migrated from east to west, and that they were able to live in northern Europe before moving to southern Europe. However, more data from additional sites is needed to determine if this migration was temporary or permanent.

Hominins have left behind stone tools and butchered animal bones scattered across the landscape, serving as solid evidence of their presence.

The study team examined the climate and habitat of the area dating back 2 million years. They discovered that during a warmer interglacial period, when temperatures were higher than today, the stone tools were used. Pollen data indicated the presence of a forest ecosystem.

Korolevo was likely attractive to ancient humans due to its proximity to the Tisza River, which flows into the Danube, and the presence of easily accessible hard rock for making stone tools, according to Garba.

Garba and his team expressed their desire to further explore Korolevo. However, the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine has posed challenges in excavating and retrieving artifacts from the site.

Editor's P/S:

This article, detailing the discovery of ancient stone tools in Ukraine, offers a fascinating glimpse into the early history of human migration and technological development. The use of innovative dating methods to determine the age of the artifacts at 1.4 million years has pushed back the timeline for human presence in Europe significantly. Furthermore, the suggestion that hominins migrated from east to west challenges previous assumptions about their movement patterns. The potential implications for our understanding of human evolution and adaptation are immense.

However, the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, which has halted excavations at the Korolevo site, underscores the fragility of our ability to learn from the past. The preservation of archaeological sites and the continuation of scientific research depend on peace and stability. It is unfortunate that political turmoil can impede our quest for knowledge and understanding.