Study Reveals Earlier Human Settlement in Mallorca

A recent study has revealed that humans settled on the island of Mallorca in the western Mediterranean much earlier than previously thought. Researchers led by Professor Bogdan Onac of the University of South Florida discovered a submerged limestone bridge in Genovesa Cave, initially believed to be about 4,400 years old. However, new mineral analysis suggests the bridge is approximately 6,000 years old, pushing back the timeline of human habitation by at least 1,800 years. The findings resolve a longstanding paradox regarding the settlement of Mediterranean islands and provide evidence of sophisticated early human activity, including the use of the cave's water resources and construction techniques. These results significantly narrow the historical gap between settlement periods in the eastern and western Mediterranean regions.