研究人員發(fā)現了最古老的手工制作的繩子，它不是人類手工制作的

研究人員發(fā)現了最古老的手工制作的繩子，它不是人類手工制作的

Neanderthals were making string and cords from fibres long before early humans cottoned on to the technique, according to a new archaeological discovery.

根據一項新的考古發(fā)現，早在早期人類掌握這項技術之前，尼安德特人就已經用纖維制作繩索了。

Researchers have found a 6.2 millimetre (0.24 inch) fibre fragment which they date to around 41,000–52,000 years ago – so quite a bit older than the previous record holder, a 19,000-year-old fragment found in Israel.

研究人員發(fā)現了一塊6.2毫米(0.24英寸)的纖維碎片，他們將其追溯到大約41000 - 52000年前——這比之前的記錄保持者——一塊19,000年前在以色列發(fā)現的纖維碎片——要古老得多。

The discovery was made in a cave in France, which would've been a Neanderthal settlement at the time. It suggests the species were smarter and more adept at crafts than we often give them credit for.

這一發(fā)現是在法國的一個洞穴中發(fā)現的，當時這里可能是尼安德特人的居住地。這表明，這個物種比我們通常認為的更聰明，更擅長做手工。

"Understanding and use of twisted fibres implies the use of complex multi-component technology as well as a mathematical understanding of pairs, sets, and numbers," write the researchers in their published paper.

研究人員在他們發(fā)表的論文中寫道: “理解和使用扭曲纖維意味著使用復雜的多組分技術，以及對成對、集合和數字的數學理解。”。

"Added to recent evidence of birch bark tar, art, and shell beads, the idea that Neanderthals were cognitively inferior to modern humans is becoming increasingly untenable."

“再加上最近樺樹皮焦油、藝術品和貝殼珠子的證據，尼安德特人在認知上不如現代人的觀點越來越站不住腳了。”

After discovering the fragment, the researchers used spectroscopy and microscopy techniques to analyse it and determine where the fibres had originally come from – probably the inner bark of a non-flowering tree, such as a conifer, before it hardened.

在發(fā)現這片碎片后，研究人員利用光譜學和顯微鏡技術對其進行分析，并確定纖維最初來自哪里——可能是未開花樹木的內部樹皮，比如針葉樹，在變硬之前。

The team suggests that we have a poor understanding of the Neanderthals because perishable materials like this are usually long gone by the time we get to them. Tools and bones can only tell us so much.

研究小組認為，我們對尼安德特人的了解很有限，因為像這樣的易腐材料通常在我們接觸到它們的時候就已經消失很久了。工具和骨骼只能告訴我們這么多。

If these ancient hominids were indeed able to make string, they would have had to know about the growth and seasonality of the trees the fibres were taken from, and been able to apply some numeracy skills to twist and bundle the fibres up into yarn.

如果這些遠古的原始人真的能夠織成線，他們就必須了解樹木的生長情況和季節(jié)，并能夠運用一些計算技能將纖維搓成線。

In other words, making fibres and string is more complicated than you might realise. The researchers think the fragment they've discovered might have been a handle for the flint tool it was attached to, or part of a net or a bag for holding tools.

換句話說，制作纖維和細繩比你想象的要復雜得多。研究人員認為他們發(fā)現的碎片可能是燧石工具的把手，或者是用來裝工具的網或袋子的一部分。

The research has been published in Scientific Reports.

這項研究發(fā)表在《科學報告》上。