As humanity embarks on its interplanetary exploration, scientists are urging the need to catalog and track human artifacts left behind on Mars. According to University of Kansas anthropologist Justin Holcomb, this is essential to document our earliest steps in space travel.
Holcomb argues that just like we use artifacts and features to study human evolution and history on Earth, we can do the same in outer space by following probes, satellites, landers, and other debris left behind. With around 22,000 pounds of human-made waste scattered across the Martian surface, researchers believe it’s crucial to establish a way to track and catalog these artifacts.
The challenge lies not only in preserving the litter but also in understanding the environmental factors that affect its location and condition. Mars’ iron-rich sands, global dust storms, and local dust storms make it difficult to relocate buried materials. Additionally, the Red Planet’s unique environment raises questions about what happens when materials get buried under large dune sands.
Holcomb believes that these artifacts are like hand axes in East Africa or Clovis points in America – they represent key points in our historical timeline of migration. By tracking and cataloging human-made materials on Mars, scientists can gain valuable insights into our species’ history and evolution.
However, not everyone agrees that this is a priority. Some argue that preserving human artifacts on Mars is unnecessary, suggesting that replicas or digital models could be used instead to save costs and resources. While others debate the Africa origin theory of humanity and question the existence of distinct human species like Neanderthals and recently discovered Asian species.
Despite these debates, Holcomb’s proposal highlights the importance of documenting our presence in space and understanding the implications of our actions on other planets. As we continue to explore and settle the cosmos, it’s essential to take a closer look at the artifacts we leave behind and what they can tell us about ourselves and our place in the universe.
Source: https://www.space.com/mars-human-artifacts-catalogue