While other scientists have for several years been pondering the implications of the revised radiocarbon dating for archaeological research throughout the world, Mellars's description of the new techniques and their significance is the first comprehensive review of the subject in a major journal.
The most pronounced discrepancies between radiocarbon and actual ages coincide with the fateful epoch when modern people first made themselves at home in Europe.
For years, it had been thought that modern humans from Africa began arriving in Western Europe at least 40,000 years ago, and so could have competed and mingled with the local population for at least 12,000 years.
The revised dating of fossils and artifacts leaves much less time when the two could have been in close contact.
Doesn't appear to be much more than earlier articles.
MEDIEVAL SETTLEMENT CLOSE TO EMERGING
John Ashall, archaeologist in charge of the Pan estate project, said he had uncovered much more evidence than expected of prehistoric, Roman and medieval life.
Experts were still investigating the discovery of a mystery item found during a recent field walk, he said.
The final field walk is due to take place on Saturday, when the public will be able to join the search for evidence of historic activity.
Mr Ashall, who has worked on projects around the world, will then catalogue the finds and prepare a report for the county archaeologist and other experts next month.
Worship of phoenix may start 7,400 years ago in central China
New archaeological discoveries show that the worship of the phoenix by ancient Chinese can be dated back as early as 7,400 years ago in central China.
A large amount of pottery, decorated with the patterns of beasts, the sun and birds have been excavated at the Gaomiao relics site in Hongjiang, Huaihua City of central China's Hunan Province, according to a report by the Guangming Daily.
"The patterns of birds should be the phoenix worshipped by ancient Chinese," said He Gang, a researcher with the Hunan Institute of Archaeology.
Interesting Liability waiver angers volunteers
State-trained volunteers are holding off from monitoring Peoria's archaeological and historic sites.
Peoria wants all site stewards to sign a waiver of liability, which Site Steward Program officials say is extreme and provides no coverage for any medical expenses for injuries.
"Nobody has asked for a separate and total waiver of liability like they have," said Mary Estes, a resource protection specialist in charge of the program. "I am not encouraging them (volunteers) to sign. If they want to sign, they can. It's not a happy place between the program and the city of Peoria over this requirement."
Cool non-archaeological news Explorers Discover Huge Cave and New Poison Frogs
A cave so huge helicopters can fly into it has just been discovered deep in the hills of a South American jungle paradise.
Actually, "Cueva del Fantasma"—Spanish for "Cave of the Ghost"—is so vast that two helicopters can comfortably fly into it and land next to a towering waterfall.
It was found in the slopes of Aprada tepui in southern Venezuela, one of the most inaccessible and unexplored regions of the world. The area, known as the Venezuelan Guayana, is one of the most biologically rich, geologically ancient and unspoiled parts of the world.
This is the first geographic report and photographic evidence of such an immense cave. However, researchers say, it isn’t really a cave, but a huge, collapsed, steep gorge.
Picture of it here. Very cool.
But no Tyrannosaurs. Darn it.