A newly found cave in northern Israel reveals the presence of pre-Neanderthals approximately 400,000 years ago. The site, considered one of the few accessible to scientists to study this enigmatic period in human history, offers crucial insights into ancient communities.
The archaeological investigation began because the cave was located in the vicinity of the city of Fureidis and would be impacted by construction projects in the region. Before the works, experts began detailed prospecting.
Initial studies, carried out in the 1970s, estimated that the cave had been inhabited around 200,000 years ago. The information was shared by Kobi Vardi, archaeologist at the Israel Antiquities Authority.
However, Vardi and his colleague Ron Shimelmitz, associate professor of archeology at the University of Haifa, now confirm that the site was occupied by human groups much earlier, dating back up to 400,000 years.
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The team arrived at this new date by finding flint tools. Hand axes, scrapers and blades, all characteristic of the Acheulo-Yabrudian culture, which corresponds to the pre-Neanderthal hominids of that era in the area, have been identified.
Vardi expressed surprise at the discovery of the actual age of the cave, which was used by members of the Acheulo-Yabrudian culture. These hominids lived in the Levant, or Near East, between 400,000 and 250,000 years ago.
In addition to the stone tools, the researchers also unearthed bones from animals such as deer and gazelles, which offer clues about the diet and environment of the time.
Such findings indicate that large communities of hominids lived in caves, hunting wild animals and controlling fire. This evidence suggests a “complex and rich camp life,” as detailed by Shimelmitz in a statement.
Despite the wealth of artifacts, to date, no significant human remains have been found in any of the caves discovered dating from this period.
Fureidis Cave is classified as “a unique site of global importance” by Shimelmitz.
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He highlighted that the “time capsule” refers to a unique phase of the Lower Paleolithic, which precedes the predominance and dispersion of Neanderthals and modern humans across different regions.
Shimelmitz added that there are few archaeological sites from this crucial phase found in Israel and the Levant in general, with most being inaccessible for study. This new discovery therefore fills important gaps in knowledge of the human evolutionary transition.
Given the relevance of the discoveries, the team of archaeologists presented their results to the construction company. A road bridge was then designed to ensure the preservation of the cave, keeping it available for future investigations.
Vardi reported that researchers are planning in-depth studies at the site, a process that should last several years.
Scientists’ greatest expectation is to find traces of hominids during excavations. “We are very excited to meet them,” Vardi said.
Experts assess the impact of the discovery on understanding prehistory
Armando Falcucci, professor of paleolithic archeology at the University of Southampton, who was not involved in the study, commented that the discovery significantly enriches the understanding of an often neglected period of human history.
Professor Falcucci highlighted that the value of the discovery lies in revealing a crucial and older period (between 400,000 and 200,000 years ago), marked by important behavioral and technological transformations in Africa and Eurasia. This includes the shift to the intensive use of caves as central points in the landscape, and deposits from this period are extremely rare in the region.
He also noted that “the evidence of the intensive use of fire at this site is particularly significant.” According to Falcucci, it is during this period and in places like this that the controlled and habitual use of fire becomes clearly visible in the archaeological record, marking a vital behavioral advance in human evolution.
Catriona Pickard, professor of prehistory and archeometry at the University of Edinburgh, also not involved in the research, said the finds “provide rare information about the material culture and lifeways of early hominids.” For her, the site has the potential to “transform our understanding of the Lower Paleolithic in the Levant”.