Original source 

Late Pleistocene Humans May Have Hatched and Raised Cassowary Chicks

Introduction

Cassowaries are large, flightless birds that are native to the tropical forests of New Guinea and northeastern Australia. These birds are known for their striking appearance and aggressive behavior, but new research suggests that they may have played an important role in the lives of late Pleistocene humans.

The Study

According to a recent study published in the journal Science Advances, late Pleistocene humans may have hatched and raised cassowary chicks. The study was conducted by a team of researchers from the University of Queensland, who analyzed eggshells from archaeological sites in New Guinea.

The Findings

The researchers found that the eggshells showed evidence of human intervention, including burning and cutting. This suggests that humans were actively involved in the hatching and raising of cassowary chicks.

Why Cassowaries?

Cassowaries are known for their aggressive behavior, which makes them difficult to hunt or domesticate. However, they are also valuable sources of food and feathers, which may have made them worth the effort for late Pleistocene humans.

Implications

The findings of this study have important implications for our understanding of the relationship between humans and animals in the past. They suggest that late Pleistocene humans were capable of domesticating animals long before the development of agriculture.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the new research on late Pleistocene humans and cassowary chicks sheds light on an important aspect of human-animal relationships in the past. It suggests that our ancestors were capable of complex interactions with animals long before we previously thought possible.

FAQs

Q1: What is a cassowary?

A1: A cassowary is a large, flightless bird native to New Guinea and northeastern Australia.

Q2: Why are cassowaries difficult to domesticate?

A2: Cassowaries are known for their aggressive behavior, which makes them difficult to hunt or domesticate.

Q3: What did the researchers find in their study?

A3: The researchers found evidence that late Pleistocene humans may have hatched and raised cassowary chicks.

Q4: What are the implications of this study?

A4: The study suggests that late Pleistocene humans were capable of domesticating animals long before the development of agriculture.

Q5: Why were cassowaries valuable to late Pleistocene humans?

A5: Cassowaries were valuable sources of food and feathers.

This abstract is presented as an informational news item only and has not been reviewed by a subject matter professional. This abstract should not be considered medical advice. This abstract might have been generated by an artificial intelligence program. See TOS for details.

Most frequent words in this abstract:
humans (3), late (3), pleistocene (3)