Sensational find in Schöningen: 300,000 year old horse DNA discovered!

Sensational find in Schöningen: 300,000 year old horse DNA discovered!

The archaeological site in Schöningen in Lower Saxony has become the setting for a spectacular find in the past few days. Researchers of the Senckenberg Center for Human Evolution and Palaeoenvirth in connection with the University of Tübingen have successfully reconstructed the genetic makeup of the extinct horse “Equus Mosbachensis”, which represents tremendous progress in the research of horse evolution. This sensational find comes from an approximately 300,000 year old excavation site, where the oldest known hunting weapons - wooden spears - were also discovered. Over 35 different types and hundreds of extinct species of horse -like people show the diversity of evolutionary history.

What makes this find so special? Loud news38.de The Schöninger DNA is considered the oldest known genetic material that has ever been successfully isolated under open open air conditions. So far, the scientific assumption that DNA could only survive up to 240,000 years outside of caves or permafrost. In Schöningen, however, the researchers found that the remains were stored in permanently moist, low -oxygen sediments that caused natural protection.

Insights into the past

The research, which was recently published in the renowned magazine "Nature Ecology & Evolution", shows that the Schöningen horses belong to a line that is considered the origin of all modern horses. This analysis can not only clarify historical data about "Equus Mosbachensis", but also illuminate the family tree of modern horses and understand the migration of these animals from North America to Eurasia. Two large waves of migration - one about 2.6 million years ago and the other 900,000 to 800,000 years ago - have now been occupied.

The genetic remains, which were discovered under open -air conditions in a former lignite mining, expand the previous knowledge gap in the evolution of the horses. The Schöninger finds represent a turning point in research, since they show that old DNA can also survive in unfavorable finding environments. This opens up new opportunities to explore the genetic diversity of past animal species.

Archaeological meaning

Schöningen himself is close to the border with Saxony-Anhalt and is known for its archaeological finds, which are of central importance for understanding early humanity. How Fieldsberg.de explains, the investigation of the DNA of the Schöninger horses is a promising basis for further research in archeology. The bones of the animals killed were found near the wooden spear, which indicates their central role as a source of food for early human species.

The Schöninger finds are not only of great importance for science. They also illustrate the long and eventful history of the relationship between humans and animals. Understanding this old connection can help us to better grasp the development of modern animal husbandry and the role of horses in different cultures. How Zeit.de reports, the investigation ultimately also shows that our knowledge of evolution and domestication of animals is growing steadily and such discoveries make a valuable contribution.