Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Cool finds

Paleolithic axes have been recovered from the bottom of the North Sea. Of course, it wasn't the North Sea when people dropped these tools; the natives probably referred to it as "this nifty grassland that looks ripe for flooding if those mountains of ice happen to melt, but who can even imagine such a thing ever happening?" Unfortunately, the axes are seriously decontextualized by having been dredged up and deposited on shore before discovery. But cool stuff nonetheless.

The flooding of previously-dry land also helps leave open the mystery of North American settlement. Did the new Americans travel inland, or did they move down the Pacific coast? Since the previous coast is now far offshore and deep under water, it may be a long time before any knows.

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