An underwater structure in the Mediterranean Sea is much older than earlier thought, a new study has revealed. The discovery has brought to the fore new highlights about the early human settlement of the Balearic Islands that comprises Mallorca, Menorca and Ibiza. It proves that humans were inhabiting the Spanish island nearly 6,000 years ago.

The latest study has been published in the journal Communications Earth &amp; Environment. Researchers examined a 25-foot-long prehistoric "bridge" structure that sits inside the Genovesa Cave. Researchers analysed the mineral formations on the bridge and also studied the elevation of a distinctive colouration band along the bridge's upper portion.

Previous research had pegged the time of its construction to around 3,500-3,000 years ago. But now experts believe that it was built around 6,000 and 5,600 years ago. Notably, the rising sea waters have now flooded the passages of the cave.&nbsp;

Lead author of the study, Bogdan Onac of the University of South Florida, and his colleagues say that this shows that humans were living on the island much before than earlier thought.&nbsp;

"This provides evidence for early human presence on the island dating at least 5,600 and possibly beyond around 6,000 years ago," the authors wrote in the study.

<h2>When did humans reach the Spanish island?</h2>

As per current scientific consensus, the earliest human settlement on the island can be dated to around 4,400 years ago. Some research even said that humans were present there 9,000 years ago, but there has not been strong data to back the belief.

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Scientists tracked the changes in sea level over hundreds of years by studying the mineral formations and the colouration band. This helped them to understand the time of the construction of the bridge.&nbsp;

"This research underscores the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in uncovering historical truths and advancing our understanding of human history," Onac said in the press release.

The limestone bridge was first discovered in 2000 during a scuba-diving expedition inside the flooded cave. Researchers found pottery fragments at the time inside the cave which helped them establish its time of construction. According to a statement from the university, bones from a now-extinct goat-antelope known as Myotragus balearicus were also found there.

An underwater structure in the Mediterranean Sea is much older than earlier thought, a new study has revealed. The discovery has brought to the fore new highlights about the early human settlement of the Balearic Islands that comprises Mallorca, Menorca and Ibiza.

An underwater structure in the Mediterranean Sea is much older than earlier thought, a new study has revealed. The discovery has brought to the fore new highlights about the early human settlement of the Balearic Islands that comprises Mallorca, Menorca and Ibiza. It proves that humans were inhabiting the Spanish island nearly 6,000 years ago. The latest study has been published in the journal Communications Earth & Environment. Researchers examined a 25-foot-long prehistoric "bridge" structure that sits inside the Genovesa Cave. Researchers analysed the mineral formations on the bridge and also studied the elevation of a distinctive colouration band along the bridge's upper portion. Previous research had pegged the time of its construction to around 3,500-3,000 years ago. But now experts believe that it was built around 6,000 and 5,600 years ago. Notably, the rising sea waters have now flooded the passages of the cave. Lead author of the study, Bogdan Onac of the University of South Florida, and his colleagues say that this shows that humans were living on the island much before than earlier thought. "This provides evidence for early human presence on the island dating at least 5,600 and possibly beyond around 6,000 years ago," the authors wrote in the study. When did humans reach the Spanish island? As per current scientific consensus, the earliest human settlement on the island can be dated to around 4,400 years ago. Some research even said that humans were present there 9,000 years ago, but there has not been strong data to back the belief. Also Read: 'Genie' seal found in Jerusalem hints a person Bible mentions was real Scientists tracked the changes in sea level over hundreds of years by studying the mineral formations and the colouration band. This helped them to understand the time of the construction of the bridge. "This research underscores the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in uncovering historical truths and advancing our understanding of human history," Onac said in the press release. The limestone bridge was first discovered in 2000 during a scuba-diving expedition inside the flooded cave. Researchers found pottery fragments at the time inside the cave which helped them establish its time of construction. According to a statement from the university, bones from a now-extinct goat-antelope known as Myotragus balearicus were also found there.

Prehistoric bridge inside a cave in Spain was built by humans 6,000 years ago

Visitors will now be able to tour France's prehistoric caves through virtual reality. The caves were closed for visitors nearly six decades ago. Watch this report to know more.

France: Visitors can once again tour the Lascaux caves through VR

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