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Evidence of what may be world’s oldest cremation found in Ethiopia, new study reveals

From Jerusalem Post · (6m ago) English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Archaeologists in Ethiopia's Afar Rift have found evidence of what may be the world's oldest documented cremation, dating back approximately 100,000 years.
  • Burnt bone fragments, discovered in the Faro Daba beds, show signs of intense heat consistent with intentional cremation, though researchers urge caution due to evidence of intense burning at the site.
  • The discovery site also yielded other Homo sapien fossils, including a complete adult male skeleton, stone tools, animal fossils, and charcoal, offering insights into Middle Stone Age life.

The Jerusalem Post reports on a potentially groundbreaking archaeological discovery in Ethiopia's Afar Rift, where researchers have uncovered evidence suggesting the world's oldest documented cremation, dating back an astonishing 100,000 years. The findings, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, are based on burnt bone fragments found within the Faro Daba beds.

Evidence of what may be the world’s oldest documented cremation, dating back approximately 100,000 years, was found by archaeologists in Ethiopia’s Afar Rift, according to a new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).

— Jerusalem PostAnnouncing the main discovery and its significance.

Initial analysis of these fragments revealed significant signs of intense heat, including cracking, charring, and discoloration. While these characteristics point towards intentional cremation, the study emphasizes the need for caution. The archaeological locality itself shows extensive evidence of burning, possibly from natural bushfires, necessitating careful interpretation to distinguish between natural phenomena and deliberate human actions.

The burnt bone fragments were one of three Homo sapien fossils discovered in the sediment of the Faro Daba beds in the Dawaitoli Formation.

— Jerusalem PostDetailing the location and nature of the findings.

This discovery adds to a rich tapestry of findings at the site, which also includes one of the most complete adult human skeletons from the African Middle Stone Age, alongside thousands of stone tools, charcoal, and fossilized animal bones. These artifacts provide a valuable window into the lives and practices of Homo sapiens during the Middle Pleistocene era, offering crucial data for understanding early human behavior, anatomy, and environmental adaptations in the region.

Initial inspection of the fragments revealed evidence of intense heat, including "extensive cracking, charring, discoloration, and fragmentation,” according to the study, pointing toward what would be considered today as an “intentional cremation involving fire intensities exceeding what is observed in most bushfires."

— Jerusalem PostDescribing the evidence for cremation.
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Originally published by Jerusalem Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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