Europe Hominid Species Ape-human White Rule Null No more Killing Humans

Europe Hominid Species Ape-human White Rule Null No more Killing Humans

Beneath the dense vegetation, there isn't much to see with the naked eye. And after three decades of careful research, archaeologists in South Africa have barely scratched the surface of this long-lost settlement.

Now, however, thanks to the cutting-edge laser technology of LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging), this site has been revealed for what it truly was: a veritable metropolis, made up of hundreds of households and trade networks.

The research has brought this city, called Kweneng, back to life. Home to a Tswana-speaking ethnic group, Kweneng's 800 homesteads are now thought to have housed no less than 10,000 people.

"What this means is filling in a huge historical gap, especially for southern Africa, because we know pre-colonial history of southern Africa has no written record, "explains Fern Imbali Sixwanha, an archaeologist at the University of Witwatersrand involved in the research. "So now we're starting to fill in the gaps using this LIDAR technology."  

It's the same technology that scientists used to locate that ancient Mayan megalopolis early last year. Today, it's helping to fill a massive historical blindspot in southern Africa.

Bouncing billions of laser light pulses off the lower western slopes of the Suikerbosrand hills near Johannesburg, the researchers were able to virtually 'see' through all the vegetation and preconceived notions that have obscured this once bustling city.