Latest news with #Bretzke
Time of India
26-06-2025
- Science
- Time of India
Did humans really live in the UAE 210,000 years ago? Cave discovery at Jebel Faya could rewrite human history
Archaeological discoveries in Sharjah's Jebel Faya rock shelter have unearthed 80,000-year-old stone tools, the oldest Middle Paleolithic assemblage in the region. This finding positions the UAE as a crucial site in early human expansion, revealing a continuous human presence in the Arabian Peninsula dating back 210,000 years. The tools demonstrate advanced cognitive skills and adaptation to favorable climatic periods. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Popular in International 1. Dubai Airport braces for massive summer rush with over 3.4 million travellers expected in just two weeks Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tools that tell a story of innovation and survival When the climate opened a window for life The well-established timeline of human migration is often simple yet confusing: early Homo sapiens left Africa to the north, spread into Eurasia, and settled across the globe. New archaeological discoveries continue to complicate that confusing such revelation has surfaced in the desert landscapes of Sharjah, where researchers at the Jebel Faya rock shelter have unearthed stone tools dating back around 80,000 makes it the oldest-known Middle Paleolithic assemblage in the region, placing the UAE at a critical crossroads in early human expansion, and potentially reshaping what we know about how and where our ancestors provides new evidence of a record of human presence in the Arabian Peninsula that stretches back 210,000 findings were published in Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences, a peer-reviewed journal by Springer Nature. The discovery is part of an international project led by the Sharjah Archaeology Authority (SAA), in collaboration with Germany's University of Tübingen and University of Freiburg, as well as Oxford Brookes University in the German Research Foundation and the Heidelberg Academy of Sciences also supported the broader Faya Palaeolandscape, surrounding the Jebel Faya site, has long been known as an essential waypoint in early human migration. But this study confirms it was more than a passing served as a habitable and sustainable environment for early humans during periods of favourable climate, particularly during the climatic phase known as Marine Isotope Stage 5a (MIS 5a), around 80,000 years researcher Dr. Knut Bretzke of the German Archaeological Mission in Sharjah explained that during MIS 5a, monsoons from the Indian Ocean brought rainfall to Arabia's brief, green periods created lakes and grasslands, making the region a suitable home for human life. According to Dr. Bretzke, this environment made long-term human occupation heart of the discovery lies in a unique set of stone tools. Unlike other sites in northern Arabia where triangular tools are standard, the tools found at Jebel Faya show evidence of bidirectional reduction. This method involves striking a stone core from both ends to produce long, efficient blades and flakes.'This shows foresight and planning,' Dr. Bretzke said. 'Each strike was deliberate and designed to conserve material. It shows cognitive skill and environmental knowledge.'These multipurpose tools were likely used for hunting, food preparation, and tool-making. Researchers believe this tool technology signals not only survival strategies but also a level of cultural development among early humans in the Jebel Faya site is one of the few in Arabia with a nearly continuous archaeological record from 210,000 to 80,000 years ago. This uninterrupted sequence offers rare insights into long-term human adaptation to shifting Excellency Eisa Yousif, Director of the Sharjah Archaeology Authority and a contributor to the study, said the discovery reflects the adaptability and resilience of early added that the findings support Sharjah's efforts to nominate the Faya Palaeolandscape as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Gulf Insider
25-06-2025
- Science
- Gulf Insider
Sharjah: 80,000-Year-Old Tools Found, Discovery Reveals 210,000 Years Of Human Settlement
In the rolling desert landscapes of Sharjah, a remarkable discovery is helping rewrite what we know about early human history. A groundbreaking study, recently published in Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences, a leading peer-reviewed journal by Springer Nature, has confirmed that early humans once lived in the Jebel Faya region around 80,000 years ago — adding a vital new layer to a much older story stretching back 210,000 years. These new findings go far beyond a timestamp. They reveal how early Homo sapiens didn't just pass through Arabia — they adapted to its unpredictable climate, inhabited its landscapes, and left behind clues that speak of innovation, resilience, and survival. Faya Palaeolandscape: a key site in understanding early Homo sapiens The broader Faya Palaeolandscape, the ancient environment surrounding Jebel Faya, emerges not only as a waypoint in human migration but as a long-term settlement — one that supported life, adaptation, and cultural advancement across millennia. The study is the result of an ambitious international collaboration led by the Sharjah Archaeology Authority (SAA) in partnership with the University of Tübingen and University of Freiburg in Germany, and Oxford Brookes University in the United Kingdom. The project was funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) and the Heidelberg Academy of Sciences. Research team uncovers rare, continuous human presence in Arabian Peninsula What makes this discovery especially striking is its timing. The evidence at Jebel Faya ties human presence to the closing chapter of a climatic phase known as Marine Isotope Stage 5a (MIS 5a) — a time of dramatic environmental shifts. 'Think of MIS 5a as a climatic pendulum,' explains Dr Knut Bretzke, lead researcher and head of the German Archaeological Mission in Sharjah. 'Temperatures and rainfall patterns swung wildly. Monsoons from the Indian Ocean brought brief windows of rainfall that turned Arabia's barren deserts into green patches of lakes and grasslands.' In those rare humid phases, life bloomed — and early humans made their mark. Contrary to the long-held belief that the Arabian Peninsula served only as a corridor for migration, these greener interludes provided a habitable refuge, sustaining long-term human presence. Stone tools that tell a story At the heart of the discovery lie stone tools — silent, sharp witnesses to a vanished way of life. What sets the inhabitants of Jebel Faya apart is not just that they used tools, but how they made them. While other sites across northern Arabia have yielded triangular or ovoid tools, the assemblage at Faya is different. Here, early humans crafted elongated blades and flakes using a method called bidirectional reduction — a technique involving precise, strategic strikes to both ends of a stone core. 'This wasn't random knapping,' says Dr Bretzke. 'Bidirectional reduction required foresight. It's like a chef filleting a fish — each strike intentional, each angle calculated. The goal was to maximise material efficiency, preserving the raw stone for future use. It reflects deep environmental knowledge and an extraordinary level of cognitive skill.' The results were multipurpose tools — designed for hunting, butchering, processing plants, and crafting more tools. In this remote corner of Arabia, technology was not only survival — it was culture. Jebel Faya doesn't just offer a glimpse into the past — it preserves it in almost uninterrupted layers. The site holds a near-continuous archaeological record from 210,000 to 80,000 years ago, a rarity in Arabian archaeology. Using luminescence dating, researchers were able to determine the age of sediment layers with remarkable precision, suggesting that early humans either continuously occupied or repeatedly returned to this site across different climate phases. As Sharjah moves forward with the nomination of the Faya Palaeolandscape to the UNESCO World Heritage List, the study provides further weight. It positions the region as one of the earliest known locations in the Arabian Peninsula where humans didn't just survive — they adapted, innovated, and thrived. Eisa Yousif, Director of SAA and one of the study's contributors, the findings carry both scientific and human meaning: 'The discoveries at Jebel Faya show that resilience, adaptability, and innovation are among the most defining traits of humanity. These tools reflect a profound relationship between people and their land. As we advance our efforts to nominate the Faya Palaeolandscape for UNESCO recognition, we are reminded of how our shared past continues to shape who we are — and who we may become.' Beyond the data and dating methods, the study offers a blueprint for how rigorous science can meet compelling storytelling. It invites both academic and general audiences to reimagine the human journey, not as a straight line, but as a layered story written into stone. And through it all, it cements Sharjah's leadership in archaeological research and cultural heritage preservation — not only documenting history but redefining its role in telling it.
Sharjah 24
25-06-2025
- Science
- Sharjah 24
Discovery of 80,000-year-old tools at Jebel Faya in Sharjah
These new findings go far beyond a timestamp. They reveal how early Homo sapiens didn't just pass through Arabia — they adapted to its unpredictable climate, inhabited its landscapes, and left behind clues that speak of innovation, resilience, and survival. The broader Faya Palaeolandscape, the ancient environment surrounding Jebel Faya, emerges not only as a waypoint in human migration but as a long-term settlement — one that supported life, adaptation, and cultural advancement across millennia. The study is the result of an ambitious international collaboration led by the Sharjah Archaeology Authority (SAA) in partnership with the University of Tübingen and University of Freiburg in Germany, and Oxford Brookes University in the United Kingdom. The project was funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) and the Heidelberg Academy of Sciences. When the Climate Spoke, Humans Listened What makes this discovery especially striking is its timing. The evidence at Jebel Faya ties human presence to the closing chapter of a climatic phase known as Marine Isotope Stage 5a (MIS 5a) — a time of dramatic environmental shifts. 'Think of MIS 5a as a climatic pendulum,' explains Dr. Knut Bretzke, lead researcher and head of the German Archaeological Mission in Sharjah. 'Temperatures and rainfall patterns swung wildly. Monsoons from the Indian Ocean brought brief windows of rainfall that turned Arabia's barren deserts into green patches of lakes and grasslands.' In those rare humid phases, life bloomed — and early humans made their mark. Contrary to the long-held belief that the Arabian Peninsula served only as a corridor for migration, these greener interludes provided a habitable refuge, sustaining long-term human presence. Tools That Tell a Story At the heart of the discovery lie stone tools — silent, sharp witnesses to a vanished way of life. What sets the inhabitants of Jebel Faya apart is not just that they used tools, but how they made them. While other sites across northern Arabia have yielded triangular or ovoid tools, the assemblage at Faya is different. Here, early humans crafted elongated blades and flakes using a method called bidirectional reduction — a technique involving precise, strategic strikes to both ends of a stone core. 'This wasn't random knapping,' says Dr. Bretzke. 'Bidirectional reduction required foresight. It's like a chef filleting a fish — each strike intentional, each angle calculated. The goal was to maximise material efficiency, preserving the raw stone for future use. It reflects deep environmental knowledge and an extraordinary level of cognitive skill.' The results were multipurpose tools — designed for hunting, butchering, processing plants, and crafting more tools. In this remote corner of Arabia, technology was not only survival — it was culture. A Rare Window into a Continuous Human Past Jebel Faya doesn't just offer a glimpse into the past — it preserves it in almost uninterrupted layers. The site holds a near-continuous archaeological record from 210,000 to 80,000 years ago, a rarity in Arabian archaeology. Using luminescence dating, researchers were able to determine the age of sediment layers with remarkable precision, suggesting that early humans either continuously occupied or repeatedly returned to this site across different climate phases. As Sharjah moves forward with the nomination of the Faya Palaeolandscape to the UNESCO World Heritage List, the study provides further weight. It positions the region as one of the earliest known locations in the Arabian Peninsula where humans didn't just survive — they adapted, innovated, and thrived. Sharjah's Legacy in the Making For His Excellency Eisa Yousif, Director of SAA and one of the study's contributors, the findings carry both scientific and human meaning:'The discoveries at Jebel Faya show that resilience, adaptability, and innovation are among the most defining traits of humanity. These tools reflect a profound relationship between people and their land. As we advance our efforts to nominate the Faya Palaeolandscape for UNESCO recognition, we are reminded of how our shared past continues to shape who we are — and who we may become.' Beyond the data and dating methods, the study offers a blueprint for how rigorous science can meet compelling storytelling. It invites both academic and general audiences to reimagine the human journey, not as a straight line, but as a layered story written into stone. And through it all, it cements Sharjah's leadership in archaeological research and cultural heritage preservation — not only documenting history but redefining its role in telling it.
Gulf Today
25-06-2025
- Science
- Gulf Today
80,000-year-old tools found in Sharjah's Jebel Faya reveal 210,000 years of human settlement
In the rolling desert landscapes of Sharjah, a remarkable discovery is helping rewrite what we know about early human history. A groundbreaking study, recently published in Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences, a leading peer-reviewed journal by Springer Nature, has confirmed that early humans once lived in the Jebel Faya region around 80,000 years ago — adding a vital new layer to a much older story stretching back 210,000 years. These new findings go far beyond a timestamp. They reveal how early Homo sapiens didn't just pass through Arabia — they adapted to its unpredictable climate, inhabited its landscapes, and left behind clues that speak of innovation, resilience, and survival. The broader Faya Palaeolandscape, the ancient environment surrounding Jebel Faya, emerges not only as a waypoint in human migration but as a long-term settlement — one that supported life, adaptation, and cultural advancement across millennia. The study is the result of an ambitious international collaboration led by the Sharjah Archaeology Authority (SAA) in partnership with the University of Tübingen and University of Freiburg in Germany, and Oxford Brookes University in the United Kingdom. The project was funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) and the Heidelberg Academy of Sciences. When the Climate Spoke, Humans Listened What makes this discovery especially striking is its timing. The evidence at Jebel Faya ties human presence to the closing chapter of a climatic phase known as Marine Isotope Stage 5a (MIS 5a) — a time of dramatic environmental shifts. 'Think of MIS 5a as a climatic pendulum,' explains Dr. Knut Bretzke, lead researcher and head of the German Archaeological Mission in Sharjah. 'Temperatures and rainfall patterns swung wildly. Monsoons from the Indian Ocean brought brief windows of rainfall that turned Arabia's barren deserts into green patches of lakes and grasslands.' In those rare humid phases, life bloomed — and early humans made their mark. Contrary to the long-held belief that the Arabian Peninsula served only as a corridor for migration, these greener interludes provided a habitable refuge, sustaining long-term human presence. Tools That Tell a Story At the heart of the discovery lie stone tools — silent, sharp witnesses to a vanished way of life. What sets the inhabitants of Jebel Faya apart is not just that they used tools, but how they made them. While other sites across northern Arabia have yielded triangular or ovoid tools, the assemblage at Faya is different. Here, early humans crafted elongated blades and flakes using a method called bidirectional reduction — a technique involving precise, strategic strikes to both ends of a stone core. 'This wasn't random knapping,' says Dr. Bretzke. 'Bidirectional reduction required foresight. It's like a chef filleting a fish — each strike intentional, each angle calculated. The goal was to maximise material efficiency, preserving the raw stone for future use. It reflects deep environmental knowledge and an extraordinary level of cognitive skill.' The results were multipurpose tools — designed for hunting, butchering, processing plants, and crafting more tools. In this remote corner of Arabia, technology was not only survival — it was culture. A Rare Window into a Continuous Human Past Jebel Faya doesn't just offer a glimpse into the past — it preserves it in almost uninterrupted layers. The site holds a near-continuous archaeological record from 210,000 to 80,000 years ago, a rarity in Arabian archaeology. Using luminescence dating, researchers were able to determine the age of sediment layers with remarkable precision, suggesting that early humans either continuously occupied or repeatedly returned to this site across different climate phases. As Sharjah moves forward with the nomination of the Faya Palaeolandscape to the UNESCO World Heritage List, the study provides further weight. It positions the region as one of the earliest known locations in the Arabian Peninsula where humans didn't just survive — they adapted, innovated, and thrived. Sharjah's Legacy in the Making For His Excellency Eisa Yousif, Director of SAA and one of the study's contributors, the findings carry both scientific and human meaning:'The discoveries at Jebel Faya show that resilience, adaptability, and innovation are among the most defining traits of humanity. These tools reflect a profound relationship between people and their land. As we advance our efforts to nominate the Faya Palaeolandscape for UNESCO recognition, we are reminded of how our shared past continues to shape who we are — and who we may become.' Beyond the data and dating methods, the study offers a blueprint for how rigorous science can meet compelling storytelling. It invites both academic and general audiences to reimagine the human journey, not as a straight line, but as a layered story written into stone. And through it all, it cements Sharjah's leadership in archaeological research and cultural heritage preservation — not only documenting history but redefining its role in telling it.
