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Topic: General Discussions (Read 2155892 times) previous topic - next topic
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Re: General Discussions

Reply #2761 –
Far more to this history will eventually out, politics or not, you can't stop discovery forever. Even controls over funding do not stop progress.
"Extremists on either side will always meet in the Middle!"

Re: General Discussions

Reply #2762 –

The mass migration of humans out of Africa circa 70,000 years ago is usually attributed to a combination of climate and environmental changes, cognitive and technological advances, following food sources like migrating herds, the discovery of coastal and marine resources, and population pressure.

It's interesting to ponder what motivated those earlier human forays out of Africa if the above factors weren't in play; strife, necessity, opportunity or curiosity?
"Negative waves are not helpful. Try saying something righteous and hopeful instead." Oddball

Re: General Discussions

Reply #2763 –
For those interested :

https://theconversation.com/discoveries-from-a-125-000-year-old-lakeshore-reveal-life-in-a-greener-arabia-293952

The mass migration of humans out of Africa circa 70,000 years ago is usually attributed to a combination of climate and environmental changes, cognitive and technological advances, following food sources like migrating herds, the discovery of coastal and marine resources, and population pressure.

It's interesting to ponder what motivated those earlier human forays out of Africa if the above factors weren't in play; strife, necessity, opportunity or curiosity?

All those things and also something much simpler… the carrying capacity of the land.
Let’s go BIG !

Re: General Discussions

Reply #2764 –
All those things and also something much simpler… the carrying capacity of the land.
It's quite wrong to form an opinion based in current modern assumptions, the very article @PaulP links is an example of that, desserts now where forests used to be, and a total population that was just a fragment of what it has been for most of modern history.
"Extremists on either side will always meet in the Middle!"

Re: General Discussions

Reply #2765 –


The mass migration of humans out of Africa circa 70,000 years ago is usually attributed to a combination of climate and environmental changes, cognitive and technological advances, following food sources like migrating herds, the discovery of coastal and marine resources, and population pressure.

It's interesting to ponder what motivated those earlier human forays out of Africa if the above factors weren't in play; strife, necessity, opportunity or curiosity?

All those things and also something much simpler… the carrying capacity of the land.

That would be a factor with the migration that took place 70,000 years ago, but the earlier excursions happened during favourable environmental conditions and when the human population was considerably fewer.  Putting aside my evidence-based archaeological method, I'd like to think that it was curiosity and a sense of adventure, or perhaps even a dash of wanderlust, that motivated those ancient folk to head off into the unknown.

Then there's the earlier departures from Africa by Homo erectus, Homo floresiensis, Denisovans and Neanderthals, with only the latter two having the cognitive and technological prowess to rival modern humans.

This is where a Tardis would be handy  :)    
"Negative waves are not helpful. Try saying something righteous and hopeful instead." Oddball

Re: General Discussions

Reply #2766 –
Putting aside my evidence-based archaeological method, I'd like to think that it was curiosity and a sense of adventure, or perhaps even a dash of wanderlust, that motivated those ancient folk to head off into the unknown.
The old sins, greed, gluttony, desire all wrapped in hubris, the tale had to have deep social origins somewhere!

The apples are sweeter over the hill, and there is no more basic craving than to want something somebody else has already got!
"Extremists on either side will always meet in the Middle!"

 

Re: General Discussions

Reply #2767 –
I think they just liked to travel  :D

Re: General Discussions

Reply #2768 –
Theres evidence of humans living 200 000 years ago in parts of Europe. 

Odds are they moved as the temperatures shifted.

Hot and cold up and down hills, near food, away from earthquakes and weird weather patterns. 

Realistically there's a lot of stuff we are still working out and the out of Africa theory is just one theory.
"everything you know is wrong"

Paul Hewson

Re: General Discussions

Reply #2769 –
Putting aside my evidence-based archaeological method, I'd like to think that it was curiosity and a sense of adventure, or perhaps even a dash of wanderlust, that motivated those ancient folk to head off into the unknown.
The old sins, greed, gluttony, desire all wrapped in hubris, the tale had to have deep social origins somewhere!

The apples are sweeter over the hill, and there is no more basic craving than to want something somebody else has already got!

There are incredibly strong motivations for staying put, as we know from families that have lived in the same village for generations.

In a hunter-gatherer society with a seasonal round of dwelling places rather than permanent homes, intimate knowledge of the home environment; resource locations, where the predators hang out, places to shelter, refuges when times are tough; would have been a powerful reason to stay put.  Then there's friendly neighbours to trade with and inter-marry, and not so friendly neighbours that are to be avoided, as well as places associated with creation stories, totemic sites, etc

Leaving home would generally require compelling reasons and I think that curiosity could be one such reason for some folk.
"Negative waves are not helpful. Try saying something righteous and hopeful instead." Oddball

Re: General Discussions

Reply #2770 –
Why did the 'islanders' travel by boat to explore back in the day? Curiosity.
Why is it different on land?