DAMASCUS, Oct 6 (Reuters) - Swiss researchers have discovered the 100,000-year-old remains of a previously unknown giant camel species in central Syria.
"This is a big discovery, a revolution in science,". Professor Jean-Marie Le Tensorer of the University of Basel told Reuters. "It was not known that the dromedary was present in the Middle East more than 10,000 years ago."
"Can you imagine? The camel's shoulders stood three metres (yards) high and it was around four metres tall, as big as a giraffe or an elephant. Nobody knew that such a species had existed."
Tensorer, who has been excavating at the desert site in Kowm since 1999, said the first large bones were found some years ago but were only confirmed as belonging to a camel after more bones from several parts of the same animal were recently discovered.
"We found the first traces of a big animal in 2003, but we were not sure it was a giant camel," he said.
A group of humans apparently killed the camel while it was drinking from a spring, said Tensorer, adding that 100,000-year-old human remains were discovered nearby at the once water-rich site in the desert steppe.
The human bones were transported to Switzerland, where they underwent anthropological analysis.
NEANDERTHAL OR HOMO SAPIENS?
"The bone is that of a homo sapiens, or modern man, but the tooth is extremely archaic, similar to that of a Neanderthal. We don't know yet what it is exactly. Do we have a very old homo sapiens or a Neanderthal?" said Tensorer.
"We expect to find more bones that would help determine what kind of man it was."
Man has been present in what is now modern Syria for 1.5 million years. The area played a key role in the migration of the first human beings towards Asia and Europe, he said.
Kowm, the site where the remains were discovered along with flint and stone weapons, is a 20-km (14 mile) wide gap between two mountain ranges that had a number of springs.
The site, which was first surveyed in the 1960s and where evidence of a 1 million-year-old human settlement has been found, is considered a "reference for early prehistory in the Near East", Basel University said in a recent research paper.
It attracted migrating herds, such as antelope, and man. Archaeological layers covering a period of several hundreds of thousands of years were discovered, which is unusual for such an open site, he said.
"It was a savannah more or less," Tensorer said. "The camels then ate probably what they eat today."
A group of humans apparently killed the camel while it was drinking from a spring, said Tensorer, adding that 100,000-year-old human remains were discovered nearby at the once water-rich site in the desert steppe.
That seems plausible because that is how I think the she-camel was killed. But the people of Thamud were not where they seem to be on that map because the Prophet on his expedition to Tabuk encamped there at Al-Hijr which is the location of Thamud. Tabuk is much more to the south from where this was discovered.
Muslim :: Book 42 : Hadith 7104
Ibn Shihab reported, and he had been talking about the stony abodes of Thamud, and he said: Salim b. 'Abdullah reported that 'Abdullah b. Umar said: We were passing along with Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) through the habitations of Hijr, and Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: Do not enter but weepingly the habitations of these persons who committed tyranny among themselves, lest the same calamity should fall upon you as it fell upon them. He then urged his mount to proceed quickly and pass through that valley hurriedly.
Muslim :: Book 42 : Hadith 7105
Abdullah b. 'Umar reported that the people encamped along with Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) in the valley of Hijr, the habitations of Thamud, and they quenched their thirst from the wells thereof and kneaded the flour with it. Thereupon Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) commanded that the water collected for drinking should be spilt and the flour should be given to the camels and commanded them that the water for drinking should be taken from that well where the she-camel (of Hadrat Salih) used to come.
“Do not argue with your Lord on behalf of your soul, rather argue with your soul on behalf of your Lord.” - Dhul-Nun
"It is the very pursuit of happiness that thwarts happiness." - Victor Frankl
We have sent down to thee Manifest Signs (ayat); and none reject them but those who are perverse.
Surah Al-Baqarah Verse Ninety-Nine
Can they be (like) those who accept a Clear (Sign) from their Lord, and whom a witness from Himself doth teach, as did the Book of Moses before it,- a guide and a mercy? They believe therein; but those of the Sects that reject it,- the Fire will be their promised meeting-place. Be not then in doubt thereon: for it is the truth from thy Lord: yet many among men do not believe!
Surah Hud Verse Seventeen
Nay, here are Signs self-evident in the hearts of those endowed with knowledge: and none but the unjust reject Our Signs.
Surah Al-Ankaboot Verse Forty-Nine[/COLOR]
Last edited by IbnAbdulHakim; 10-07-2006 at 10:59 PM.
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My tears testify that i have a heart
yet i feel me and shaytan never part
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well they needed some sort of transport in those days, and i feel sry for those tiny camels gettin sat on by 50 foot people lol, logically the camels must have been bigger BUT accordin to the story of Saleh (AS) that camel was a miracle bestowed to the people of Saleh but the perverted people decided to kill it thus leading to there destruction. So the camel was much larger then the actual camels of those times... which must have been HUGE !!!
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My tears testify that i have a heart
yet i feel me and shaytan never part
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I think what the person who made the title meant, "could this be the camel that was sent as a sign to the people of thamud"
because its pretty clear, and is mentioned in the Quran heaps of times, that thamud is a place, and the 'people of thamud' were tested and the destroyed cos they were evil etc... theres no doubt about it, i think you just misinterpreted the title
I think what the person who made the title meant, "could this be the camel that was sent as a sign to the people of thamud"
because its pretty clear, and is mentioned in the Quran heaps of times, that thamud is a place, and the 'people of thamud' were tested and the destroyed cos they were evil etc... theres no doubt about it, i think you just misinterpreted the title
Sowwie! - So is this some form of sign of something to come in the future according to the Quran? Sorry i'm not familar with the Quran.
Ėk Gusā Alhu Mėrā
The One Lord, the Lord of the World, is my God Allah.
Dhan Guru Arjan Dev Mahraaj Ji!
Kal Meh Bėḏ Atharbaṇ Hū Nā Kẖuḏā Alhu Bẖa.
In the Dark Age of Kali Yuga, the Atharva Veda became prominent; Allah became the Name of God.
its possible.the early people(people of adam) were giants.and its says in islam the closer the time of jugdement day comes.people will shrink.so can you image people thousand of years ago people were much bigger than they were today.
"Religion is very easy & whoever overburdens himself in his religion won't be able to continue in that way.So you should'nt be extremists,but try to be near to perfection & receive good tidings that you'll be rewarded;& gain strength by worshipping in the mornings,the nights." (bukhari vol.1 no.38).
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Re: Giant Camel discovered? could it be Thamud???
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