Lebanon: 400,000 years of climate and landscape history rediscovered

An international research team, led by Dr. Gabriele Russo from the Senckenberg Centre for Human Evolution and Palaeoenvironment at the University of Tübingen, has re-examined historical fossil collections from Lebanon using modern methodology. The findings, published in the journal Communications Earth & Environment, reveal that the Levant served as an important corridor for animals and various human lineages during the Pleistocene, approximately 2.58 million years ago to 11,700 years ago.

The studies, which focus on three sites - Ras el-Kelb, Naame, and Nahr Ibrahim - date back as far as 400,000 years, providing insights into the lives of early humans and the landscapes of that time. The research underscores the high scientific value of historical collections, particularly in politically unstable regions like Lebanon, where access to important fossil sites has been limited due to ongoing instability.

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