Scientists have found that humans began to influence the environment since the time of the Neanderthals

It is generally accepted that a person began to provideimpact on the environment in the era of industrialization. We all know the results - nature is polluted, many species of animals, birds and plants have disappeared, and global warming is in full swing. However, in fact, human influence on the environment began even earlier. For example, in the era of the agricultural revolution, people began to change the landscape in order to grow certain plants. But scientists argue that this date is too late. Anthropogenic changes began to take place long before people mastered agriculture. Moreover, nature began to be influenced not only by intelligent people, but also by Neanderthals, at least more than 120 thousand years ago, although there is data that indicate not several hundred thousand years. This is confirmed by the Leiden University staff, who carefully studied the ancient finds discovered by archaeologists in Germany at the Neumark-Nord site.

Scientists have discovered that humans have been affecting the environment since the days of the Neanderthals

How ancient people influenced the environment

Scientists from Leiden University studiedsome archaeological finds that belonged to the Neanderthals. These include tools, animal bones, remains of charcoal, etc. Research has shown that Neanderthals often kindled bonfires. I will note that at that time in Europe there was still no Homo sapiens. Therefore, there is no doubt that all the finds belong to an extinct species of people.

But what does Neanderthal bonfires have to do withimpact on the environment? Studies of plant pollen collected from the site where traces of human habitation were found showed that there were no forests around the territory of the Neanderthals. People lived in open areas with grassy surfaces. However, in other areas in the same area, forests grew everywhere.

Neanderthals used the forest to kindle fires and build shelters

Why did Neanderthals live in open areas?

According to the researchers in the article,published in the journal Science Advances, the site in the forest could have appeared for only one reason - the Neanderthals regularly cut down trees. Apparently they used them as fuel for fires. It is possible that trees were also used as building materials to create shelters.

There were no forests, the researchers say.on a fairly large area. This may indicate that the Neanderthal settlement was large. In addition, they lived on this site for a long time, cutting down trees year after year, as a result of which they thus changed the landscape at the site of their village and, as a result, transformed the ecosystem. This assumption is confirmed by archaeologists. In their opinion, the Neanderthals lived on the territory of Neumark-Nord for about two thousand years.

During this period, warming took place in Europe.climate, which began about 150 thousand years ago. As a result, conditions were favorable for Neanderthals here. The area could feed a large number of people. Therefore, the ancient people simply did not need to leave their village.

People learned to light a fire about 400 thousand years ago

When people began to use fire and change the landscape

Neumark-Nord is not the first evidence thatancient people kindled bonfires and influenced the ecosystem. In particular, a similar situation is observed in Rabac, where there was also an ancient man's camp. In general, people learned to use fire even earlier - about 400 thousand years ago. Archaeologists have recorded a mass of evidence of how the number of forests decreased in those areas where ancient people lived.

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Moreover, ancient people were accused of extinction.some types of animals. In particular, they were blamed for the destruction of mammoths. True, further research has shown that people are still not to blame for this. Mammoths became extinct as a result of climate change, which, in fact, left them without food.

The main feature of Neumark-Nord, whicharouses the interest of researchers, lies in the fact that it was the Neanderthals who lived here. This suggests that the tools of these people and the ability to handle fire made it possible to change the landscape. Finally, let me remind you that the Neanderthals not only had tools and built houses for themselves, but also buried the dead in a similar way to intelligent people, which I talked about earlier. They were probably more intelligent than is commonly believed.