Loyal Lovin readers can support Lovin so we can continue to share the stories of all amazing cities
Minimum custom amount to enter is AED 2
By donating, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service
Human Fossil From 88,000 Years Ago Has Been Discovered In A Saudi Desert And The History Behind It Is FASCINATING
History was made in Saudi, yet again, after the discovery of human fossils dating back almost 90,000 years was found in the Nefud Desert. Reuters revealed photographs of the finger bones, which helped scientists uncover details of how the human species came out of Africa, and journeyed to colonising the world.
Image via Reuters
An adult’s finger (from 88,000 years ago) was found in Al Wusta
The result of finding this middle bone of the adult’s middle finger shows that it is one of the oldest Homo sapiens fossil outside of Africa, and it’s also the first human fossil from the Arabian peninsula. The Nefud Desert today seems like your usual dry and sand-filled land, however; reports suggest at the time that this human (from the fossil) lived through a grassland with great wildlife and a freshwater lake that surrounded it.
Sounds beautiful, right?
Recommended
Theres A Traditional Airbnb In Madinah That People Can’t Stop Raving About
Umrah Visitors Got A Gorgeous Surprise With Recent Rainfall In Makkah
You Need To Get Your Hands On These Epic Discounts To Kickstart Your 2025 WardrobeWhat scientists discovered about the individual through their fossil
The Homo Sapiens, our (human) species, appeared in Africa roughly 300,000 years back, reports Saudi Gazette. Scientists then, thought that humans left Africa in one quick migration 60,000 years ago to journey around its neighbouring areas.
The fossil of the middle phalanx bone is 1.2 inches (3.2cm) long and this suggests that humans left Africa much earlier. Another discovery made was that people were moving through interiors of the land and not its coastlines.
Validity of the discovery
To confirm that the fossils found were of a modern human, the bone was scanned in three dimensions. In addition, animal fossils were also found, such as that of a hippopotamus and small fresh water snails (found on site).
According to the Daily Mail, experts used a technique referred to as ‘uranium series dating’ where a laser made microscopic holes in the fossil to ‘measure the ratio between traces of radioactive elements’. This is when it was then revealed that the finger bone was 88,000 years old.
The moment of discovery by Iyad Zalmout of @SgsOrgSa at Al Wusta! #SaudiArabia @SCTHKSA @SCTANEWS #Arabia #fossil #Palaeoanthropology #Archaeology pic.twitter.com/DGa5MfIFu9
— Michael Petraglia (@MDPetraglia) April 10, 2018
Newsletter