Three hundred sixty thousand years ago.
This is undoubtedly a suffocating number.
Many people probably don't even understand the implication of this timeline, but merely looking at it evokes a strong prehistoric atmosphere.
Then Lu Chaoyang turned around and looked at Ouyang Dongshan:
"Researcher Ouyang, three hundred sixty thousand years ago... were there any signs of human existence on Earth?"
Although Ouyang Dongshan is a polar scientist, the demand for prehistoric knowledge in polar scientific research is actually quite high — for example, the identification of glaciers from millions of years ago aims to understand the situation of Earth's cultural species contemporaneously.
Thus, for experts like Ouyang Dongshan, he might not be too familiar with history within a few thousand years.
But he could effortlessly recall major milestones marked by tens of thousands of years.
Therefore, upon hearing the number three hundred sixty thousand, he merely paused for thought, and then laughed:
"Professor Lu, there were indeed indications of human existence at that time, and in considerable numbers.
Of course.
This refers to prehistoric humans, also known as early Homo sapiens.
We modern humans are a new species among late Homo sapiens; apart from the evolutionary lineage, there's not much significant connection between the two."
Lu Chaoyang pondered for a moment, somewhat curiously said:
"Like the Yuanmou Man?"
"Close enough to that concept."
Ouyang Dongshan did not point out the flaws in Lu Chaoyang's words. Such definitional minor blemishes are inconsequential:
"However, it's a bit later than the Yuanmou Man."
The ancestors of humans are called primitive humans, their history can be traced back to 4 million years ago.
The earliest humans were animal gatherers, surviving by picking wild fruits in the wilderness, without relying on agriculture or animal husbandry.
Almost every area on Earth showed evidence of activities by primitive humans, and truthfully, there were quite a few.
Currently, the relatively recognized typical representative is the Yuanmou Man fossil mentioned by Lu Chaoyang.
At that time the research team collected 6 samples from the gravel layer 38 meters above the fossil site. Using the method of 26Al/10Be, the dated result is 1.54±0.06 million years ago.
According to the estimated sedimentation rate of the strata, the age of the Yuanmou Man fossil stratum is deduced to be 1.72±0.03 million years.
Yet in reality, some jawbones and teeth were also discovered at Wushan Longgu Slope.
According to ESR and uranium series tests, they date back approximately 2.2 Ma, which is 2.2 million years ago.
However, this statement is currently quite controversial, extending to regional academic and even academic faction debates.
The initially classified human jawbone found at Longgu Slope (like Homo erectus or Homo habilis, artisans, etc.) is now predominantly considered to belong to ape species.
Possibly a kind parallel to or a new genus alongside Lufeng Ancient Apes.
The same controversy applies to the Jian Man, all currently embroiled in disputes.
A typical example of this controversy is on page 15 of the "National Tourist Guide Basic Knowledge" (China Tourism Press) that mentions "the Jian Man, about 2 million years ago, are currently known as the earliest ancient human fossils within China."
While the junior high school textbooks have always maintained the Yuanmou Man from 1.7 million years ago.
Delving deeper into the two, one finds it involves a regional academic dispute with neither side conceding to the other.
Nonetheless, whichever of the above is the earliest native human.
When the timeline converges at three hundred thousand years, it is indisputable that there are signs of human activity locally.
Only these signs can hardly be described as 'civilization,' and this is consistent in other regions across Earth.
According to Ouyang Dongshan's appraisal.
The cave's ice blocks formed their initial freeze during that period.
Although not a hundred percent conclusive, this at least suggests with some probability that...
The appearance time of the ice coffin is likely not later than this point.
This is quite thought provoking and alarming, as the ice coffin might be related to the precursor civilization of Damo Realm!
Then Lu Chaoyang glanced at Su Bai and the others who were still inspecting other areas, and continued to ask:
"So Researcher Ouyang, were there any major events locally over three hundred thousand years ago?"
Ouyang Dongshan rubbed his chin and thought for a while, suddenly a trace of hesitation emerged on his face:
"It seems that locally, there weren't any major events over three hundred thousand years ago, but..."
"But what?"
Ouyang Dongshan raised his eyelids and glanced at him without directly explaining, instead asking:
"Professor Lu, have you heard of Out of Place Artifacts?"
Lu Chaoyang was first taken aback, then quickly realized:
"Are you referring to OOPArts?"
As a young scholar who enjoys surfing the internet, Lu Chaoyang frequently indulges himself in leisure browsing.
For instance, browsing Zhihu to see how others commend themselves, or checking if any author on Qidian has criticized him.
Besides.
Weibo is another frequent place for him.
In the previously newly unearthed artifacts at Sanxingdui, archaeologists discovered several ancient utensils that bear some similarity to modern art style.
This topic stirred quite a discussion online, with Southern Uncle San even hitting the trending list.
Due to a higher access level, Lu Chaoyang once saw a post from a history expert in his circle of friends:
'Those interested can search for the keyword OOPArts, it might opens your perspective.'
Thus Lu Chaoyang searched and indeed was astonished by the new perspectives it introduced.
OOPArts.
In English, it is called OOPArts (Out of Place Artifact), an academic term for Out of Place Artifacts.
However, due to transliteration, the term OOPArts has become more famously known.
It refers to unique and little-known objects that can be found in records of anomalies in history, archaeology, or paleontology.
These objects are discovered in times and places where they shouldn't exist, challenging traditional understandings of history.
Unlike the Cthulhu Foundation, this concept is less mainstream but undeniably a tangible existing notion.
For instance, related scientific papers have been published in journals like Science and Nature, with dedicated research groups also established in Chinese academic institutions like Qingbei.
Although researchers always hope to derive simple and rational conclusions from the study of these peculiar artifacts.
Many believe that OOPArts might actually reveal the complexity or level of human civilization.
Some people even firmly believe that extraterrestrial intelligent beings are the reason for the existence of OOArts.
Until now.
Researchers have discovered dozens of OOPArts.
Among them are the Antikythera mechanism, the famous Maine penny, the Shroud of Turin, the Baghdad battery, the Saqqara bird, the Peruvian Ica stone carvings, Costa Rican giant stone balls, the London hammer, etc.
Currently.
Among them, Wang Mang's caliper, suspected of being from a transmigrator, and the Bronze Sun Wheel from Sanxingdui are also renowned.
Seeing Lu Chaoyang had engaged with OOPArts, Ouyang Dongshan continued explaining:
"Professor Lu, among the currently discovered OOPArts, the miniature objects found at the Ural Mountains have always been a mysterious topic.
These miniature objects were discovered in 1991 by a scientific expedition conducting 'gold mine geological surveys' near the banks of the Kozim River, Narada River, and Balbany River.
Russian scientists conducted numerous tests on these mysterious nano objects, with fascinating results.
Because they found that the largest fragments were made of pure copper, while the smaller ones were composed of tungsten and molybdenum.
These metals are the same as those used in spacecraft and rockets, having high temperature resistance, with the smallest length being only 1/10000 of an inch.
After soil and material identification, Russian authorities confirmed they all originated from...
Three hundred thousand years ago!"
Lu Chaoyang's pupils suddenly contracted.
1/10000 inch.
With today's technological standards, even a small-town factory could achieve such precision.
But three hundred thousand years ago...
This is simply an impossible task.
Then Ouyang Dongshan paused and continued:
"Of course, the related data was unilaterally announced by their side, and except for them, no one can confirm its authenticity.
But considering the high doses of radioactive material uncovered in the 1959 Ural Mountain mysterious event, the discussions around mysterious objects within the mountain are still prevalent in relevant circles.
By the way, Professor Lu.
I am not saying that there is definitively a connection between the ice coffin and the Ural Mountains.
It's just that the number of discoveries inclined towards mystery from three hundred thousand years ago is substantial, so I arbitrarily linked them together."
Lu Chaoyang slightly nodded, he was still open to this degree of acceptance.
Then he opened his mouth, preparing to say something, when he heard Cao Yi beside him whisper:
"Professor Lu, I've made a discovery!"
.....
Note:
A minute after updating, the auto-subscriptions plummeted by half, crying QAQ.
This time is truly too hurtful, don't know how much it will affect continued follow-ups; yesterday a bunch of collections dropped... sigh.
Yesterday was originally going to write the beginning of a new book and showed it to Mu Ge and Bayun. It now feels like it could be used as a side story...
