News Story
Earliest humans a sophisticated lot
A team of international researchers, including UNSW archaeologist Dr Andy Herries, has shown that the earliest humans may have been a sophisticated lot who decorated their bodies, used advanced stone tools and enjoyed seafood.
Landmark research gathered from a cave on the South African coast has provided a rare glimpse into the minds of the earliest humans Homo Sapiens. It was published this week in the prestigious science journal Nature.
The research shows that around 164 thousand years ago, Homo Sapiens were using pigment ochre - possibly for body decoration - wielded quite advanced stone tools and enjoyed meals of shellfish and other seafood.
Dr Herries, from the Human Origins Group in the School of Medical Sciences and one of the reports authors, says it is usually difficult to get into the mind of early people and find out what they were thinking.
For the full story, see the UNSW website.
News story published 19/10/2007