Ancient aquatics

Determining the daily activities of prehistoric people is difficult without written records, but scientists have figured out a way to identify individuals who often engaged in intense water-related activities, such as diving, surfing and fishing.

Don't know about the fishing, unless you are in the habit of continually falling in the water.

According to a paper accepted for publication in the American Journal of Physical Anthropology, abnormal ear canal bone masses, called auditory exostoses, can be linked to aquatic activities. Like a sort of skeletal tattoo, the masses mark the remains of some early individuals. . .

The researchers analyzed 676 skeletons dating from 5,000 years ago to more recent times from 27 coastal and inland native Brazilian groups. As predicted, few inlanders possessed the bone masses, but many coastal groups had them. Skeletons from only one region, the southern part of the state of Santa Catarina, presented differences between the sexes, suggesting that women usually, but not always, went out on the water as men did.

There's also mention of ancient Roman skeletons being examined. Full article here.

Posted by David on March 29, 2007 11:26 AM