Hidden within a quarry in the Upper Galilee region of Israel lies an ancient “armory” that dates back 1.6 million years, long before the emergence of modern humans, Homo sapiens.
According to Live Science, this shocking discovery is a site where the extinct species Homo erectus mined flint to create weapons. These weapons aided them in hunting and butchering elephants, from the species’ inception until about 500,000 years ago.
Homo erectus, meaning “upright man”, is a species classified within the same genus, Homo, as modern humans.
Homo erectus, a different human species but within the same genus as us – (Graphic: Science Picture Co)
Evidence suggests that Homo erectus emerged approximately 1.89 million years ago and went extinct around 100,000 years ago. They likely did not interbreed with our species but remain a distant relative in the complex family tree of humanity.
Besides being the first humans to walk upright, abandoning the ape-like gait, Homo erectus is also believed to be the first to harness fire technology, inventing the earliest tools and weapons.
Therefore, what scientists have uncovered in Israel is an unparalleled treasure.
Meir Finkel, a co-author from Tel Aviv University (Israel), noted that they traced ancient migration routes of elephants based on the landscape and fossilized remains, finding them closely aligned not only with water sources but also with ancient quarries.
The findings, published in the scientific journal Archaeologies, indicate that their search led them to Paleolithic sites in the Hula Valley, situated between the Sea of Galilee and the borders of Israel, Syria, and Lebanon.
Traces and artifacts preserved in the sediments reveal that this ancient species selected flint-rich areas to hunt gigantic prey, even leaving behind ritual items at these rock outcrops.
They valued the “sacred power” of stones, not only for spiritual reasons but also because these locations provided the materials needed to create the first weapons of humankind.
In addition to elephants and mammoths, Homo erectus also hunted hippos, camels, and horses in the area.
The parallel routes between water sources and quarries for weapon-making inadvertently created a favorable world for their ancestors, aiding their survival and playing a crucial role in the evolutionary path of humankind.
