A child's tooth and strange green stones uncover a 5,500-year-old mystery
Archaeologists discovered evidence of 5,500-year-old human activity in a high-altitude Pyrenees cave, including hearths and green mineral fragments. The findings suggest prehistoric communities occupied high-mountain environments more frequently than previously believed.
Why it matters
Challenges historical assumptions about prehistoric migration patterns and the use of extreme environments by early humans.
High in the eastern Pyrenees, archaeologists have uncovered evidence that could transform our understanding of how prehistoric people used mountain landscapes. A cave perched more than 7,300 feet (2,235 meters) above sea level contains dozens of ancient hearths filled with fragments of green mineral that may point to early copper mining activities.
Scientific reporting based on archaeological findings.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in