An exciting international study, led by researchers from Friedrich Schiller University Jena, has uncovered evidence of 80,000-year-old stone blades created by Homo sapiens in Arabia. This groundbreaking discovery was made at the Jebel Faya archaeological site, located near Al Madam in the Emirate of Sharjah, UAE.
A Rich Archaeological History
Previous excavations at Jebel Faya have already revealed tool assemblages spanning several prehistoric periods, including the Palaeolithic, Neolithic, and Bronze Age. These findings indicate that the region was inhabited from 210,000 to 10,000 years ago.
New Findings and Chronometric Data
A recent study, published in the journal Archaeological and Anthropological Science, provides new chronometric data that confirms human occupation at Jebel Faya around 80,000 years ago. This period aligns with the end of the MIS 5 humid phase, a time when environmental conditions were more favorable.
The tools found from this era are primarily elongated flakes with parallel edges, and they were crafted using bidirectional techniques. The study concludes that these tools were made by Homo sapiens, marking the oldest evidence of systematic stone blade production on the Arabian Peninsula.
The Significance of the Discovery
Dr. Bretzke, a lead researcher from Friedrich Schiller University, explains that this discovery highlights the unique role of South Arabia in the early spread and cultural development of Homo sapiens in Southwest Asia. It also provides new insights into the migration routes used by Homo sapiens as they left Africa.
The findings challenge previous assumptions about the region and offer valuable clues about the settlement history of Arabia. These exciting results have been officially published in Archaeological and Anthropological Science.
This discovery not only shifts our understanding of ancient human behavior but also enhances the story of human migration across the globe.
