Master Timeline
Earliest known agrarian society in the Africa/Middle East zone: Located in southern Egypt, Nabta Playa is one of the earliest known agrarian societies in the Sahara. This prehistoric community developed a sophisticated system of cattle herding and possibly small-scale cultivation, alongside seasonal water management strategies, making it a precursor to more complex agricultural societies in the […]
Egypt: Nabta Playa (Agrarian) Read More »
Journalism has roots going back to early attempts to document. It matters because rumor is easy and verification is hard. Watch bylines. Trust reporting over journalist over opinion.
Lebombo bone: First Lunar Phase Counter Read More »
Zoroastrian texts like the Bundahishn describe a cosmology with a timeline involving a 12,000-year long struggle between good and evil. In 2024, we are nearly 3,000 years into the ealiest known history of this religion. If the “Time of Humanity” is 3,000 years, then Earth was created about 7000 BCE and we are close to
Zoroastrian Universe Creation Date Read More »
The Maya Long Count calendar is often associated with a creation date, which corresponds to August 11, 3114 BCE in the Gregorian calendar. This represents the start of the current cycle of creation according to Mayan mythology.
3114 BCE: Mayan Earth Creation Date Read More »
231 Generations Ago Estimating the date of Earth’s creation according to Judaic tradition involves delving into the Hebrew Bible and rabbinical interpretations. A significant historical calculation places the creation at 3761 BCE, marking the beginning of the Hebrew calendar. This date is derived from the Seder Olam Rabbah, a 2nd-century CE chronology that counts the
3761 BCE, Judaic Earth Creation Date Read More »
About 2.4 billion years ago, Cyanobacteria “hacked” the sun to split water, releasing oxygen as a byproduct and triggering the first global environmental catastrophe and subsequent biological reset.
Great Oxidation Event: Third Atmosphere Read More »
Deep orange or reddish-brown atmosphere: The second atmosphere’s formation was crucial and occurred just before or alongside the formation of Earth’s oceans, which directly supported the evolution of organic molecules and prebiotic microenvironments. The second atmosphere began to develop around 4.5 to 4 billion years ago, as volcanic outgassing released gases trapped in the Earth’s
Second Atmosphere: Carbon Dioxide & Nitrogen Read More »
Likely white or grayish atmosphere: The first atmosphere developed first but was not directly involved in the development of life. The first atmosphere formed shortly after Earth’s formation around 4.5 billion years ago. This initial atmosphere was primarily composed of hydrogen and helium, the lightest and most abundant elements in the universe, which were captured from
First Atmosphere: Hydrogen & Helium Read More »
As the Earth cooled following its formation, outgassing from volcanic activity released water vapor and other gases into the atmosphere. When the Earth’s surface cooled sufficiently, this water vapor condensed and fell as rain, filling the basins that would become oceans.
First Oceans: Fresh Water Read More »
The process of salination likely began soon after the oceans formed but took hundreds of millions of years to reach the salinity levels similar to what we see today. The oceans were likely significantly salty by about 3.5 billion years ago. Salinity increased primarily through the weathering of rocks and the leaching of minerals (including
Second Oceans: From Fresh to Salty Read More »
Possible lost city off Japan: Discovered in 1985 off the coast of Yonaguni, Japan, it has captivated archaeologists, geologists, and conspiracy theorists alike. Characterized by its monolithic, terraced structures, this submerged rock formation resembles architectural craftsmanship that some suggest could date back to around 8000 BCE, a time when global sea levels were significantly lower.
Under Investigation: Yonaguni Monument Read More »
The feature of the epicanthic fold, particularly prevalent among East Asian populations descended from Haplogroup A, is an adaptation to cold, windy, and bright environments encountered as humans migrated northward from Africa. This phenotype likely developed to protect the eyes from frostbite and snow blindness, showcasing how genetic diversity within human lineages adapted to specific
Phenotype Variation: Eye Shape and the Epicanthic Fold Read More »
As dairy farming became prevalent, particularly in Europe and some African communities, natural selection favored individuals who could digest lactose into adulthood. This genetic adaptation, known as lactase persistence, is a direct result of human cultural practices (dairying) and has had significant dietary implications.
Phenotype Variation: Lactose Tollerance Read More »
Skin color diversity is far older than humanity. Across many animals, pigmentation varied by species, population, body region, environment, and evolutionary history.
Skin Color Diversity Across and within Primate Species Read More »
Homo heidelbergensis was the likely neanderthal-sapiens last common ancestor.
Homo heidelbergensis Read More »
In early great apes like Dryopithecus, young apes learned survival behaviors by watching parents and group members. That’s cultural transmission. the passing of useful information.
Genus Dryopithecus: Cultural Transmission Emerges Read More »
Blue eyes emerging stands out as a striking example of a genetic mutation that spread across populations. Traced back to a single individual living between 6,000 and 8,000 BCE in the region near the Black Sea. The mutation involved is a specific change in the OCA2 gene, which alters the way melanin is produced in
Phenotype Variation: Blue Eyes Read More »
The ancient site of Çatalhöyük was not continuously known through historical records and was rediscovered in the modern era. It was first excavated by James Mellaart in 1958, who conducted major excavations between 1961 and 1965. These excavations revealed a wealth of information about Neolithic life and brought significant attention to the site. Its discovery
Rediscovery: City of Catalhoyuk, circa 7100 BCE Read More »
The earliest known use of plaster dates back to around 9000 BCE, with evidence from the ancient site of Çatalhöyük in modern-day Turkey. Here, Neolithic inhabitants utilized plaster made from lime to coat the floors, walls, and even ceilings of their mud-brick houses. This early application of plaster represents a significant technological innovation, indicating a
The Ain Ghazal statues, dating back to around 7200 BCE, are among the earliest known examples of human figures crafted from plaster, highlighting an advanced use of materials in the Neolithic period. This technique involved applying plaster, made from lime and powdered limestone, over a core of reeds and twine to create lifelike statues with
Ain Ghazal Statues: Early Plaster Art Read More »
