A 6,000-year-old submerged bridge in Majorca: a revelation that could redefine the timeline of Mediterranean colonization. The history of the island could be much older than previously thought.
The study of the bridge discovered in the Genova Cave in Majorca upends our understanding of when the first inhabitants arrived in this area. This underwater bridge provides valuable clues about when the island may have been colonized.
The Genova Cave, located near the coast of Majorca, conceals a 25-foot (7.7 meters) long limestone bridge. Constructed around 6,000 years ago, this bridge connected the cave's entrance to a dry chamber, now submerged. Research led by an interdisciplinary team from the University of South Florida has accurately dated this bridge. The limestone deposits on the structure, along with a distinct coloration band, were analyzed to determine its age.
Previous estimates placed human presence on Majorca at around 4,400 BCE. However, these new findings suggest human occupation stretching back to 5,600 BCE, narrowing the gap with other Mediterranean islands. The method used to date the bridge relies on uranium-thorium isotope analysis of carbonate formations, offering great precision in dating submerged structures.
The significance of this discovery goes beyond simple chronological revision. It highlights an impressive capacity of early inhabitants to manipulate their environment and build infrastructures suited to their time. The cave and the bridge also reveal elements of the daily life of the first settlers.
Artifacts found, including pottery fragments, indicate a sophisticated level of activity and advanced exploitation of available natural resources. Additionally, the analysis of remains from
Myotragus balearicus, an extinct dwarf goat, suggests that the cave had a more complex function than as a mere passage. It may have served as a shelter or storage site.
This research has the potential to alter our understanding of human migrations in the Mediterranean. Future explorations could further enhance our knowledge of early Mediterranean societies and the environmental impacts of their settlements.
Article author: Cédric DEPOND