Mysterious Ancient Human Settlement Revealed by Underwater Bridge in Spanish Cave

A groundbreaking study from the University of South Florida has unveiled fascinating insights into early human settlement in the western Mediterranean. Published in the journal Communications Earth & Environment, this research indicated that humans reached the Spanish island of Mallorca much earlier than historians previously estimated.

The study, led by USF geology professor Bogdan Onac, revolved around a submerged, 25-foot-long (7.6-meter-long) bridge within Genovesa Cave. By examining mineral formations and a distinctive "bathtub ring" on the bridge, scholars established its construction was nearly 6,000 years ago. This challenges prior beliefs that underestimated the human presence on Mallorca by thousands of years, bridging the timeline gap between eastern and western Mediterranean settlements.

Ancient Mallorca

Reconstructing early human activity on Mediterranean islands is arduous due to sparse archaeological records. The bridge, revealing sophisticated construction techniques and strategic resource usage, implies that early settlers utilized the cave’s water resources extensively. Professor Onac observed that such advancements suggest a significant understanding of local conditions and deliberate infrastructural development.

Essentially made from hefty limestone blocks circa 4.2 feet (1.3 meters) across, assembling this bridge without modern technology remains enigmatic. Initially found in 2000, estimates from pottery-based research posited the bridge’s age at 3,500 years. However, fresh studies aligning the sea-level history and radiocarbon-dated evidence provided a significant revision of this timeline, confirming the bridge was built around 6,000 years ago.

The presence of remains from now-extinct Myotragus balearicus, a native goat species, and pottery near the cave's opening proposes that the cave might have been a strategic habitat or had ritual significance. Despite its location and relative size within the Mediterranean, Mallorca’s settlement was delayed compared to other islands due to its hot, arid climate and scant natural resources apart from fish and goat species.

Submergence of History

The rise of global sea levels meant that significant portions of the cave—and the bridge itself—are now submerged. The team discerned that calcite deposits on the bridge's coloration band denoted steady sea levels around 5,600 years ago, strengthening the claim of its earlier construction period.

Implications for Historical Analysis

This diversified study confirms the timeline for human activities on Mallorca close to significant environmental shifts, such as the extinction of Myotragus balearicus. By narrowing the human settlement timelines across the Mediterranean, it underlines the necessity for interdisciplinary research to unearth profound truths and reassess long-standing historical theories.

Onac stresses the importance of progressive collaborative efforts to reveal these hidden narratives, advocating the reevaluation of traditional timelines using advanced methodologies and scientific sleuthing.

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