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55,000 years ago, Neanderthals may have trekked deep into Saudi Arabia when Nefud Desert was covered by lakes and grasslands
The Times of India • • science
Key Points:
- A new study indicates Neanderthals may have reached a lakeside site in Saudi Arabia's Nefud Desert around 55,000 years ago, much farther into the Arabian Peninsula than previously believed.
- Researchers identified Neanderthal-made stone tools at Jebel Katefeh 1 through statistical comparison of flake shapes, as no Neanderthal bones or DNA have been found in Arabia.
- Dating techniques showed the site was occupied during a wetter, greener period when Neanderthals were the only known hominins in southwest Asia, suggesting they adapted to diverse and changing environments.
- Experts find the evidence compelling but note the identification relies on indirect archaeological data rather than fossil remains, which are scarce due to Arabia's harsh preservation conditions.
- This research challenges previous assumptions about Neanderthal mobility and adaptability, implying they dispersed widely across varied landscapes, including deep into the Arabian interior.
