Description
The Apidima Cave complex consists of fiveArchaeology
Research programme
The scientific research programme at Apidima began in 1978 and is being conducted by the National Archaeological Museum of Greece in collaboration with the Laboratory of Historical Geology-Palaeontology ofFindings
Approximately 20,000 bones, bone fragments, and teeth from various fauna have been collected since 1978 from this site by Theodore Pitsios and his team. There are a few animal specimens with probable traces of butchering. The two ''Homo'' fossils were excavated from the thick and cohesive''Homo'' fossils
Finding of fossils
Researchers uncovered two significant fossils in Apidima Cave "A" in 1978. The two fossils are now referred to as Apidima 1 and Apidima 2.Apidima I
Apidima I consists of the posterior portion of the cranium which does show signs of erosion. This specimen is suspected of being of similar taxonomic designation as Apidima II though, as of 2019, no testing had been done Apidima 1 has been found to have more modern features but still presents some older, more primitive features. In a 2019 article written by Katerina Harvati (et.al.) for Nature Journal, it was hypothesized that Apidima 1 may be an early example of Neanderthal prior to the changes in the overall cranial structures, but after the facial features had been developed. Apidima 1 is estimated to date to more than 200 thousand years ago.Apidima II
The second crania, labeled Apidima 2 is more representative of Neandertal. A continuous and large brow ridge is present consistent with measurements with Neandertal fossils found elsewhere. It is estimated that Apidima 2 to be dated more than 150 thousand years ago. The fossilized cranium appeared to have multiple fractures, as well as malformation of the left side of the skull, suggestive of sediment pressure which occurred after having been deposited. Apidima 2 has undergone analysis via CT scan in which the cranium was virtually reconstructed. Scientists used the digital nature of this analysis to reconstruct the specimen without fractures and breaks in order to visualize a clearer view of one of the earliest European hominid samples to date.Homo sapiens hypothesis
In 2019 study a research team proposed a hypothesis these Hominids present a mixture of modern human and primitive features. This makes Apidima 1 the oldest evidence of ''Homo sapiens'' outside Africa,Discover''. July 10, 2019. more than 150,000 years older than previous ''H. sapiens'' finds in Europe. The lead researcher, Katerina Harvati, summarized, "Our results suggest that at least two groups of people lived in the MiddleHomo erectus hypothesis
In 2020 publication another research group concluded that the anatomical features of both skulls show they can be attributed to the group of evolved EuropeanAnimal fossil findings
Fossils of large animals have been found at the Kalamakia site, north of Apidimia. These findings consisted of Rhino, elephant, deer, goat, and sheep species. The deer and caprid species fossils are considered to have been food items. At Apidimia, Caves B and C held fossils of leopard (''Panthera pardus)'' and European Badger ''(Meles meles),'' whereas Caves C and D contained fossils from multiple lynx (''Felis (Lynx) lynx''). Cave C also provided fossil remains of both wildcat species (''Felis silvestris'') and red fox (Vulpes vulpes), as well as remains of the beech marten (''Martes foina'').See also
*References
External links