An international team of scientists has discovered a submerged landscape off the coast of Croatia in the Adriatic Sea that was once above sea level thousands of years ago. The researchers are part of the Life on the Edge project, a collaboration between the University of Bradford in the UK and the University of Split in Croatia. Using high-resolution underwater seismic sensors, they uncovered a network of streams, rivers, and geological features that were preserved beneath the seabed. These findings are shedding new light on the Upper Paleolithic period, specifically between 24,000 and 10,000 years ago when sea levels were lower than they are today.
In the next five years, the researchers plan to map parts of the Adriatic Sea and the North Sea to further understand the landscapes that existed during the Upper Paleolithic period. Principal investigator Simon Fitch from the University of Bradford explained that the goal of the research is to gain a better understanding of this ancient period and its archaeology. By surveying these submerged areas, the team hopes to uncover more artifacts that can provide insights into the lives of people who once lived in these regions. The recent survey off the coast of Croatia provided more detail than expected, indicating that more people may have inhabited these now-submerged areas than previously thought.
The unique environment around Split in Croatia has preserved these ancient landscapes, allowing for the potential preservation of artifacts that can offer valuable information about human life during the Upper Paleolithic period. The team plans to send divers to inspect some of the surveyed areas later this year in the hopes of finding more human artifacts. By understanding these landscapes and the cultures they have preserved, researchers aim to ask fascinating questions and gain a more holistic understanding of the archaeology in the region. The research will also shed light on the important role that Croatia played in the prehistory of the Adriatic region as a gateway to Europe.
Simon Fitch emphasized the importance of understanding how the landscape was lost to the sea and how it affected people and cultures in the region. By unraveling the archaeological picture more clearly, researchers hope to gain insights into the cultural and historical significance of the region. The findings from the underwater survey in the Adriatic Sea have given researchers a new perspective on the ancient landscapes that existed during the Upper Paleolithic period and the potential for uncovering more artifacts that can contribute to our understanding of human history. This research project aims to challenge conventional wisdom and find connections that can bring us closer to common ground in understanding the prehistoric past.
