Snails and Sediments Reveal the True Age of a Site Occupi...

What’s Happening

Breaking it down: Learn about the archaeological site of ‘Ubeidiya, now locked in as one of the oldest areas that humans occupied outside of Africa.

An archaeological site in the Middle East now stands as one of the oldest areas that humans occupied outside of Africa, a distinction that has been set in stone ancient sediments. The site of ‘Ubeidiya, located just south of the Sea of Galilee in the Jordan Valley, has received a revised age that dates back to 1. (and honestly, same)

A new study published in Quaternary Science Reviews has locked in that ‘Ubeidiya contains the oldest evidence of early humans outside of Africa, together with the Dmanisi site in the nation of Georgia.

The Details

A variety of dating techniques spilled that ‘Ubeidiya is hundreds of thousands of years older than once thought, rewriting the turning point in history when early humans first began to journey to unfamiliar lands. : A 2-Million-Year-Old Skeleton Shows Early Humans Were Still Built for the Trees Migrating to New Territories Mineral layers preserved within a fossilized shell.

(Image Credit: Perach Nuriel) Ancestors of modern humans are believed to have migrated out of Africa around 2 million years ago, gradually spreading throughout Eurasia. Archaeologists have explored various sites that offer evidence of early human occupation.

Why This Matters

The medieval Georgian town of Dmanisi, for example, is home to a site that dates to around 1. This site contains about 100 ancient human fossils, over 8,000 animal remains, and over 11,000 stone and stone artifacts, according to the International Commission on Geoheritage. ‘Ubeidiya is another significant prehistoric site that was occupied who left behind large bifacial stone tools that fit within the Acheulean culture (often associated with Homo erectus individuals that crafted pear-shaped hand-axes).

Scientists and researchers are watching this development closely.

Key Takeaways

• But, establishing ‘Ubeidiyas exact age has been a challenge for archaeologists, according to a statement on the new study.
• Previous estimates dated the site to between 1.

The Bottom Line

But, establishing ‘Ubeidiyas exact age has been a challenge for archaeologists, according to a statement on the new study. Previous estimates dated the site to between 1.

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