www.Travel-To-Halkidiki.com - HALKIDIKI ISLAND GUIDE
Welcome to Halkidiki
Travel to Halkidiki Travel-to-Halkidiki logo
Travel-to-Halkidiki logo Travel-to-Halkidiki logo Travel-to-Halkidiki logo
Travel-to-Halkidiki logo
HOME | E-CARDS | HALKIDIKI PHOTOS  
Welcome to ...
blank imageHALKIDIKI

 
--------------------------------------------------------------------
SEARCH
German translation by Google French Italian Spanish Portuguese Japanese
HALKIDIKI
HOTELS
RESTAURANT
RENT A CAR
TRAVEL AGENCY


MAP
INFORMATION
VILLAGES
BEACHES
WORTH SEEING
PHOTO GALLERY
VIDEO GALLERY
360 PANORAMAS
E-CARDS
TOPICS
MAILING LIST
NEWS
SEARCH
ABOUT US
LINKS

HALKIDIKI HISTORY Early man in Petralona cave

CLICK TO VIEW ACTUAL PHOTO SIZE

Discovered accidentally in northern Greece in May 1959, the Petralona cave added a significant link to the chain of human evolution. Dr. Aris Poulianos (Ph.D. University of Moscow and active member of the New York Academy of Science) found a complete skull and part of the skeleton of an erect hominid embedded in stalagmite.

This on-going excavation began in 1965. Twenty seven strata have been analysed, with evidence of fire dating back one million years. The type of bone and stone tools and the cranial size of this early man (1,230 cubic centimeters) all point to a very early form of "Homo sapiens"

The environment in which he lived was very different from today. The Lower Pleistocene (1,500,000 - 750,000 years ago) was marked by great climate changes, ice ages alternating with interglacial periods when ice sheets retreated and the climate warmed. Chisels, awls, hammers and other tools helped this early man survive in a harsh environment. Fire, his most important ally, provided warmth and kept carnivores away. The remains of mice, bears, hyenas and deer species were found in the excavated strata.

The discovery of so early a specimen in Europe challenges the prevailing theory that the earliest "Homo" species evolved in Africa.

By Katerina Constantopoulos



Please share your opinion of it with other travelers. Write a review!


BACK TO HISTORY