6,000-Year-Old Submerged Bridge in Mallorca Sheds Light on Early Human Arrival
A recent study led by the University of South Florida has uncovered evidence that humans arrived on Mallorca, Spain, much earlier than previously thought. Researchers discovered a submerged stone bridge in Genovesa Cave, which has been dated to approximately 6,000 years ago, indicating human presence on the island around 2,000 years earlier than earlier estimates. The bridge, which is now underwater due to rising sea levels, suggests that early settlers recognized the cave's water resources and constructed infrastructure to navigate the area.
The research utilized mineralogical and archaeological records to reconstruct historical sea levels in the cave, employing calcite and aragonite deposits as proxies. These deposits formed on stalactites during periods of high sea levels, allowing for accurate dating of the bridge. The findings, published in the journal Communications Earth & Environment, challenge previous timelines of human settlement in the Mediterranean and demonstrate a sophisticated level of activity by early inhabitants. The study was supported by several National Science Foundation grants and involved extensive fieldwork, including underwater exploration and precise dating techniques.
