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Mental Floss

Here are nine of the most revealing discoveries that have changed our understanding of our early ancestors

Mental Floss
Summary
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81% Informative

Scientists have uncovered ancient fossils, prehistoric artwork, and other clues to the evolutionary origins of humankind.

In 1978 , the famous paleoanthropologist Mary Leakey and anthropologist Paul Abell excavated a trail of fossilized footprints in Laetoli , Tanzania .

An estimated 75,000 figures are depicted on the rock walls in Chiribiquete National Park , Colombia .

The Löwenmensch figurine is made from mammoth ivory and depicts a half-human, half -lion being.

It was carved about 40,000 years ago during the Aurignacian period, the same era in which Chauvet cave paintings were made.

The figurine, along with other evidence in the cave, may be the oldest known evidence of religious belief.

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86

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semi-formal

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English

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56

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not offensive

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long-living

External references

24

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