Ancient Ostrich Eggshell Shows Proof Homo Sapiens Experienced Climate Change 250,000 Years Ago

While most people believe that climate change is extremely recent, a study now indicates that this, in fact, dates back 250,000-350,000 years back.

A Times Now report said, climate change is an occurrence that is taking over the world bit by bit. Because of global warming, the ice caps that melt in the Arctic and Antarctic regions are experiencing a negative effect on the weather all over the world.

The changes are not promising as it impacts the patterns that are vital for the flora and fauna's survival. The evidence of such an occurrence, this report said, is an ancient ostrich eggshell that has proven this point.

This study was spearheaded by Philip Kiberd and Dr. Alex Pryor, professors from the University of Exeter. Specifically, it states that a part of South Africa's interiors was certainly a wetland and grassland 250,000 years ago, although is currently all dry due to extreme climate change that took place then.

Ancient Ostrich Eggshell

The study, "Ostrich Eggshell Isotope Data from Bundu Farm, South Africa, and New Evidence on Middle Stone Age Environments in The Upper Karoo", was published in the South African Archeological Bulletin.

Essentially, the process for dating the shell involves grading it to make its powder form and carrying out the study.

The two professors examined the isotopes and the amino acids of the ancient ostrich eggshell. According to the EurekAlert website, by the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the eggshell fragments were discovered at the Bundu Farm, located in the Northern Cape area.

The researchers found it belongs to the Middle Stone Age. Such eggshells are typically found in South Africa's archeological sites.

A Glimpse into the Earlier Appearance of the 'Homo Sapiens'

What is interesting, according to the study authors is that the period in which the change occurred is in fact, extremely essential as it's giving a glimpse into the earlier arrival of the community that was identified as the "Homo Sapiens".

The Homo Sapiens, according to the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, evolved in Africa during a time of dramatic climate change about 300,000 years ago.

According to Kiberd, their analysis of the ostrich eggshell has helped them to better understand the environments in which the ancestors were evolving and offers a vital context in which to interpret both the behaviors and adaptations of people in the past and how this eventually resulted in the evolution of human species.

Bundu Farm is now supporting a small flock of sheep and is close to a small town in a dry semi-desert environment.

It was originally excavated in the 1990s and the objects found are currently stored at McGregor Museum in the country.

Increasing 'Aridity'

According to a related SciTechDaily report, following this period of equitable climate and environment, the ancient ostrich eggshell evidence, as well as previous discoveries from the site, suggests, after 200,000 years ago, cooler and wetter climates paved the way to increasing aridity.

This is a process of changing wet and dry climates known as driving the species' turnover and evolution which include Homo sapiens.

Kiberd said this part of South Africa is extremely dry, although thousands of years back, it would have been an "Eden-like landscape" that had lakes and rivers, and an abundance of species of fauna and flora.

Related information about the Homo Sapiens and climate change is shown on The Elephant's YouTube video below:

Check out more news and information on Homo Sapiens and Climate Change in Science Times.