Ancient bird bones redate human activity in Madagascar

Analysis of bones from what was the world's largest bird has revealed that humans arrived on Madagascar more than 6,000 years earlier than previously thought. Ancient bones from the extinct Madagascan elephant birds show cut marks and depression fractures consistent with hunting and butchering. The new study provides evidence of human presence on Madagascar as far back as 10,500 years ago.

All of Madagascar's megafauna—elephant birds, hippos, giant tortoises and giant lemurs—became extinct around 1,000 years ago.