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Excavation in Iraqi desert reveals 850 artifacts up to 1,5 million years old, offering new insights into human evolution in the Arabian Peninsula
One of the excavation launched in the Iraqi desert has revealed more than 850 artifacts, dating back up to 1,5 million years, offering a new perspective on human evolution in the Arabian Peninsula.
The research, conducted by an international team of archaeologists, takes place in an area once dominated by a large lake in the Pleistocene, revealing signs of early human presence.
Carried out between November and December, the excavation was the starting point for a more in-depth study of the geological and archaeological history of the Iraqi desert.
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The region, known for its aridity, has been underestimated when it comes to traces of ancient civilizations. However, recent findings prove that Iraqi territory was the scene of human activity much earlier than previously thought.
Excavation in Iraq
The team led by archaeologists Ella Egberts, Jaafar Jotheri and Andreas Nymark located seven Paleolithic sites.
Among the artifacts found, hand axes over a million years old stand out, in addition to Levallois reduction flakes, dated to 300.000 to 50.000 years old.
These instruments are of utmost importance, as they help to better understand the habits and technological advances of early human societies.
According to Egberts, the fieldwork was a great success: “We carried out a systematic survey to understand the spatial distribution of the artifacts and carry out the first analyses on the tools found.".
With this initial success, the team intends to expand the research to other areas of the region and further study the findings.
Training new researchers and raising local awareness
In addition to the excavations, the researchers took the opportunity to involve the local community.
During the fieldwork, three students from the University Al-Qadisiyah, in Iraq, were trained in the area of archaeology, which also helped to generate greater awareness about the importance of this field of study in the country.
Archaeologists believe that other unexplored sites in the region will likely yield similar discoveries.
The fieldwork can be seen as a taste of what is to come. For the researchers, the recent discoveries are not just destroyed materials, but valuable evidence of early human land use, an important milestone in the history of human evolution.
More information about the discovery at Interesting Engineering.
