When did the modern people appear?

The jaw fragment was found in a prehistoric cave in Torquay, the earliest evidence to show the emergence of modern humans in northwestern Europe, the scientists said.

This jaw bone was unearthed in the 1920s but its significance is only apparent after the research team conducted the chronology test with today's advanced technology.

Analyzing at Oxford University, he concluded that the bone and three teeth appeared between 44,200 and 41,500 years ago, the same period as the Neanderthals. Therefore, modern mating with Neanderthals takes place until they disappear 30,000 years ago.

Jaw bone fragments with teeth found in
a prehistoric cave in Torquay. (Photo: Chris Collins)

'For a long time, many people have thought that Europe is almost a stronghold of Neanderthals, but this evidence for the first time shows the emergence of modern humans in northwest Europe' , he said. Tom Higham, the head of the study said. They are pioneers who settled there with some other animals.

Scientists used statistical methods to calculate the age of the jaw bone fragments found. In addition, many skeletons of wolves, deer, bears and fluffy rhinoceros of 50,000 to 26,000 years have been unearthed.

The discovery was published in the journal Nature on November 2.

In another study led by Dr. Stefano Benazzi from the University of Vienna, after examining two baby teeth found in a cave in southern Italy in 1964, the science team found them to be aged. about 41,000 to 45,000 years old.

By using digital scanners, they also found signs of modern humans instead of Neanderthals.