What's happened
Recent research suggests that the San people of South Africa may have depicted extinct animals in their rock art, specifically a creature resembling a dicynodont. This finding, published in PLOS ONE, indicates a sophisticated understanding of paleontology predating Western science. The study highlights the significance of indigenous knowledge in interpreting fossils.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to The Independent, researchers assert that the Horned Serpent panel could depict a dicynodont, a species that went extinct long before humans existed. Julien Benoit, a co-author of the study, noted, 'This work supports that the first inhabitants of southern Africa... integrated them in their rock art and belief system.' The New York Times highlights that this finding could indicate that the San had a form of paleontological knowledge that predates Western scientific descriptions by at least a decade. This perspective is echoed in the Independent's coverage, which emphasizes the need for further research into indigenous knowledge systems.
How we got here
The Horned Serpent panel, painted by the San people between 1821 and 1835, features a unique creature that has puzzled researchers. Recent studies have linked this artwork to local dicynodont fossils, suggesting that the San had a deep understanding of their prehistoric environment.
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