The First Human Ritual
A startling discovery of 70,000-year-old artifacts and a python's head carved of stone appears to represent the first known human rituals. Scientists had thought human intelligence had not evolved the capacity to perform group rituals until perhaps 40,000 years ago.
Ref. https://news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/200611...irsthumanritual
How do scientists come up with these dates? We only have about 4,000 years covered well and yet they can throw out decades in an instant.
I remember reading this story when it was released. I was intrigued by the idea that the "oldest" human ritual discovered so far was one of snake worship.
I'd like to hear some other opinions on what this implies, given what snakes and serpents have come to represent in modern (if you consider the last 5,000 years modern) religion.
Considering humans tenancy to look for an answer as to why we are here and who created us this is not a shock. I am sure however that the serpent was not the only thing worshiped at that time. We just have discovered so little and this is just one of the firsts.
It was really late when I read this last night and I confused the word "ritual" with "sacrifce"--and didn't quite understand what it was saying. SO I have a couple of basic questions....sorry if they seem way simplistic but I am curious.
So in this story (the link was no longer available) they are saying they found the first human ritual and it involved them worshipping a snake? or a carved stone of one?
I was thinking originally that they found bones with the stone, but when looking back I realized it said artifacts. Did the article mention what those were?
https://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15970442/
Here is an updated link to the story I will answer your questions I think.
Thanks Krakyn! It definitely shed some light on the subject.
That is so interesting--I love stuff like this. I have to wonder like Darkscribe, how the scientists can throw out thousand of years for dates like that, but the evidence is still exciting.
As Krakyn mentioned,
QUOTE |
We just have discovered so little and this is just one of the firsts. |
Scientists like to give tens of thousands of years to anything because it makes it look more important a find that if it were just a few thousand years. Maybe they want a prize for discovery with some notoriety.