The creatures found in North Yorkshire, England indicate extensive knowledge of the habitat of many animal species.
Prehistoric creatures found in North Yorkshire, England show that the lifestyle of ancient hunter-gatherers who lived around 10,500 years ago was more complex than previously thought.
The discovery site was originally located on the coast of an island, which was surrounded by a very ancient lake, dating back to the Mesolithic period (13,000 to 8,000 years BC). Thick peat deposits that formed over thousands of years have helped preserve objects in conditions rarely seen for such ancient material and have provided important insights into these early human societies.
Archaeologists have discovered animal bones turned into tools and weapons, as well as evidence of carpentry. “The Mesolithic in Britain predates the introduction of ceramics or metals, so finding organic remains such as bones, horns and wood, which are not normally preserved, is very important to help us reconstruct people’s lives.” , He says. The University of Manchester archaeologist involved in the excavation told the BBC.
In addition, evidence of a wide range of hunted animals has been uncovered, including moose, deer, and smaller mammals such as beavers. Animal carcasses were deliberately dumped in the island’s swamps. Hunting weapons made of bone and horn were also found, decorated and disarmed before being discarded.
The researchers involved in the discovery believe that this evidence shows how Mesolithic peoples determined the rules for handling hunted animals and the objects used for that purpose. This contributes to a richer interpretation of the lifestyles of these inhabitants, which are so seamlessly integrated into the landscape, and to a deeper understanding of the behavior and habitats of many animal species.
In general, it is customary to think of prehistoric hunter-gatherers as a nomadic people, always on the brink of starvation, moving from one point to another in a constant search for food. The artifacts found may point to a series of more complex relationships, as people create ways to dispose of animal remains and important artifacts and turn to decorating everyday objects.