Antecessors
Over centuries of exploration, Terrans bacme convinced that that they were alone in the universe. They never encountered a living or dead alien civilizations over the dozens of systems they travelled to and surveyed. Ironically, after the Tanit System was cut off from the larger galaxy, this changed. In 150 TE (12550 HE), researchers confirmed that an alien civilization once called the Tanit System home, finding evidence of them on Tanit II and the moons Cartiea and Barcino that orbit Tanit III. It shook the foundations of Tanit System Terran civilization. Some accepted it. Others were excited. Some rejected it and in the case of several sects of Christians in Old Dar es Salaam, they rioted. But now, for the overwhelming bulk of people , they're an accepted reality and an area of intensive study. This study is driven not just by academic and public interest however. In the short time that Terrans have known about the Antecessors, some of their simpler technologies have been decoded and put to use, revolutionizing whole branches of science and engineering. This has spurred an unfortunate and highly illegal trade in artefacts, an ongoing problem that's system wide and reinvigorating criminal enterprises at all levels.
Basic Information
Anatomy
Based on art, furniture, and the remains of settlements, the Antecessors were close approximations of humans, standing and average of 2.1m tall and with minimal sexual dimorphism. They had six digits on their hands and feet. Their hands had four fingers between two thumbs, and their feet showed similar morphology. Depictions show them with wider than human normal set eyes, possibly indicating descent from herbivores. their heads were slightly longer and more ovoid, and their necks less muscled and longer. However, this is all based on informed guess work and can;t be confirmed until xenoarchaeologists locate remains.
Genetics and Reproduction
This process is unknown at this time, but based on material objects excavated and other context clues, it's currently thought that the Antecessors were a placental mammal analogue. There's no genetic information available at this point.
Growth Rate & Stages
Archaeological finds have confirmed that the Antecessors had at least four growth stages, with a distinctive "young adult" stage after their teenage equivalent.
Ecology and Habitats
The Antecessors were an urbanized and spacefaring civilization, and more research is being done into this area.
Dietary Needs and Habits
Like the current Terran population of the Tanit System, the Antecessors were omnivores. Their diet appears to have been seafood heavy, and to have included several grains and terrestrial fruits and vegetables that were absent during the pre-terraforming survey.
Biological Cycle
This is unknown at this time, save that they appeared to use polyphasic sleep cycles.
Behaviour
What has been confirmed is that there appears to have been at least two major political factions who came into conflict towards the end of Antecessor civilization. They were jokingly called Mu and Atlantis y an early research team, and then the names stuck because Antecessor A and Antecessor B were too dry after that went viral. At some point, major landmasses were sunk, and then an unknown series of events led to a reset of the planet via unknown terraforming methods.
Additional Information
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
Scans with UV and IR lights against excavated murals and textiles, and confirmation zoanids with near IR or near UV vision, appears to indicate that the Antecessors had an extremely broad spectrum of vision that covered the human normal spectrum and goes into the edges of both infrared and ultra violet light.
Origin/Ancestry
It is currently thought that the Antecessors were native to the Tanit System, and that they evolved on Tanit II.
Conservation Status
Extinct. As of 550 TE (12950 HE), there have been no living or dead examples seen or recovered. It's currently estimated that the Antecessors somehow "reset" the system approximately 6800 standard years ago, after a prolonged conflict caused them to destroy the majority of their industrial base, and that after that point, they were no longer in system.
Geographic Distribution
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