Scientists have uncovered a detailed picture of a surprisingly verdant prehistoric world through the analysis of an elephant tooth dating back approximately 700,000 years. The fossil, found in northern Israel alongside ancient stone tools, belonged to Palaeoloxodon antiquus, commonly known as the straight-tusked elephant. This species was one of the largest land mammals to inhabit Earth during the Ice Age. The discovery suggests that this massive creature and some of the region's earliest human populations lived side by side in an environment rich with forests, rivers, wetlands, and abundant vegetation.
The research, published in Quaternary Science Reviews, centers on findings from Gesher Benot Ya'aqov (GBY-NBA), an archaeological site located in the Jordan Rift Valley just south of the modern Hula Valley. At this location, elephant remains were unearthed together with handaxes and cleavers crafted from basalt, a volcanic rock. These artifacts are attributed to the Acheulian tradition, recognized as one of the oldest and most widespread stone tool technologies in human history. The excavation was led by Professor Gonen Sharon of Tel-Hai University of Kiryat Shmona in the Galilee, while the specific analysis of the elephant molar and tusk fragments was conducted by Hannah Farrell, a PhD candidate at Haifa University.
Rather than focusing solely on the animal itself, the research team treated the tooth as a chemical record of its surroundings. By employing a combination of techniques including CT scans, 3D reconstruction, microscopic examination of tooth wear, isotope geochemistry, and pollen analysis, the scientists reconstructed the ancient habitat. Carbon isotope measurements indicated that the elephant lived in an area with a dependable water supply. Furthermore, pollen preserved in nearby sediments revealed the presence of diverse wetland plants such as reeds, sedges, willow, tamarisk, and aquatic vegetation. These data points to a persistent landscape featuring woodlands, open grasslands, marshes, flowing rivers, and shallow bodies of water.
The location of this prehistoric oasis is particularly significant as it lies within the Levantine Corridor, a natural passage connecting Africa and Eurasia that served as a crucial route for ancient human and animal migration. Researchers believe the area functioned as a stable ecological refuge, maintaining vital resources over long periods. The availability of water, vegetation, and animal life in the Hula Valley likely played a decisive role in allowing early human groups to survive and move through the region. According to Professor Sharon, understanding how humans and animals responded to environmental changes hundreds of thousands of years ago provides critical insight into the forces that shaped our species.
The study involved collaboration among specialists from several Israeli universities. In addition to Farrell and Sharon, the team included Cheryl A. Makarewicz and Nimrod Marom from the University of Haifa, who contributed isotope studies and archaeozoology respectively, as well as Minji Jin and Dafna Langgut from Tel Aviv University, who conducted pollen analysis. The findings underscore the importance of reconstructing ancient landscapes to better understand the ecological conditions that supported both wildlife and human populations nearly 700,000 years ago.
Sources: ScienceDaily.