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The surprising history of cave life: Why did humans choose to live in darkness?
Since prehistoric times, human life has been diverse and fascinating. The presence of cave dwellers has provided us with important insights into human orientation and housing choices over the course of their long history. This article explores the background of early cave dwellers, ancient and modern examples of cave dwelling, and what drove humans to call these dark places home.
Cave dwellers in prehistoric times
Cave dwellers, also known as cavemen or trogos, are people who live in caves or areas beneath cliffs. In prehistoric times, some humans did make their homes in caves, but this was not a common phenomenon. According to archaeological data, only a few early humans chose this lifestyle.
"Although we call them cavemen, in fact only a handful of humans have ever lived in caves."
For example, in the Valonnet Cave on the French Riviera, which dates back about a million years, although stone tools and animal remains were found, there is no evidence of long-term human habitation. In China's Zhoukoudian Cave, various human species such as Pekingese and modern humans have inhabited this cave since about 750,000 years ago.
Speciality and diversity of caves
In ancient times, small groups also lived temporarily in caves to seek shelter or hide from enemies during wars or other crises. Ancient Greek and Roman texts contain numerous references to cave-dwelling tribes such as the Trogos.
"When faced with violence, people flee into caves for safety."
Many ancient letters mention that the Dead Sea Scrolls in Judea were hidden in caves in this context. This document was only rediscovered in the 1940s and 1950s.
Transformation of modern cave life
In modern times, cave dwellings still exist. For example, the Tasaday people in the 1970s were still living in caves in the Philippines. In the Middle East, Palestinians still live in caves until modern times. In China, 30 million people choose to live in caves called cave dwellings, which are warm in winter and cool in summer, making these caves attractive in modern society.
The multicultural impact of caves
In places like Coober Pedy and Lightning Ridge in Australia, many families choose to build their homes underground in the Opal mines to escape the sweltering heat. In Europe, especially in Greece, some Christian hermits became "cave dwellers" because of their spiritual practice. Joseph Cave Dweller is a famous example. Similarly, the Sacromonte Cave in Spain is still home to about 3,000 Gypsies.
"Caves are not only shelters, but also places where culture and history interact."
The continuing appeal of caves
There are many examples in American history of early European immigrants living in caves in places such as New England, New York and Pennsylvania. According to reports, these cave houses provided a relatively comfortable deep living experience for immigrants at that time. Even in the 21st century, there are still families who choose to renovate caves as their homes, such as a couple in Missouri who converted a 15,000-square-foot sandstone cave.
Conclusion
From prehistoric cave life to modern people’s use of caves, the relationship between humans and caves has shown amazing flexibility and adaptability. Cave life not only reflects human needs for safety and shelter, but also carries multiple cultural, historical and social meanings. In the face of rapidly changing urban life, is it possible for us to rethink the inspiration for cave dwelling, and can it provide new inspiration for future lifestyles?
