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Home , Early modern human, Misliya cave

Mina Weinstein-Evron & Hershkovitz Figure 4. The left hemi- Biology / ︱ Figure 1. Location of fossils in and the maxilla with teeth Middle East. Image modified from [http://visibleearth.nasa.gov/ view_rec.php?vev1id=11656 “Blue Marble”] Discovering when the first early modern left Africa Previous evidence suggested t is accepted that sapiens deserts, the is the ideal that early modern humans (humans) originated in Africa, as did location to search for evidence of early left Africa 90,000 to 120,000 Iall other hominins. Hominins are the human movement due to the restricted ago, but new evidence group containing humans and human-like area. There are several archaeological dig has shown this event may species, including and other sites of importance in the corridor, and have occurred much earlier. relatives of Homo sapiens. Humans are many interesting finds with significance Professor Mina Weinstein-Evron the only extant member of the group of for . Professor Weinstein- (University of , Israel) and hominins. This is a subsection of hominids, Evron and Professor Hershkovitz and their Professor Israel Hershkovitz (Tel which are all the great apes including colleagues, have been investigating a site Aviv University, Israel), together chimpanzees, gorillas and orangutans, known as Misliya on the slopes of with their colleagues, have as well as humans. Humans left Africa , Israel. They believe they found a modern human fossil to settle all across the world, probably may have found evidence of the earliest Figure 3. The excavated area where Misliya 1 at in Israel, which multiple times, and to do this they would modern humans outside of Africa. Figure 2. Misliya cave was found Figure 5. The left hemimaxilla dates to between 177,000 and have travelled the Levantine corridor. This 194,000 years ago. These might makes the Mount Carmel - Galilee area HUMAN FOSSILS determined by the physical characteristics. from Misliya cave suggest that this event ago changes our understanding of the be the first modern humans of Israel one of the richest in the world for The most significant find at the Misliya Ancestors of modern humans (earlier occurred at least 100,000 years earlier than time-span of Homo sapiens evolution, outside of Africa. They have Middle Homo fossils. cave site was the discovery of half a members of the Homo genus, such as previously thought. This finding turns our which must have occurred much earlier. also discovered a collection of human upper jaw (maxilla) with attached ) If modern humans shells, a variety of stone tools, teeth. Three different dating methods left Africa before started traveling abundant remains of hunted THE LEVANTINE CORRIDOR The Levantine corridor is the narrow were used at three different laboratories Homo sapiens’ The most significant find at the Misliya out of Africa around animals, and evidence for stretch of land in the Eastern to determine the age of the fossil. The appearance. 200-250,000 years repeatedly used hearths. Mediterranean region, at the crossroads first was uranium-thorium dating (also However, the cave site was the discovery of half a ago, they must have of Africa, Asia and Europe, which would called U-series dating), which uses the morphology of the human jawbone with attached teeth. originated in Africa have been the route taken by early rate of radioactive decay of uranium to Misliya upper jaw much earlier than modern humans when they left Africa calculate the age of calcium carbonate and the attached teeth is consistent with current understanding – of modern human previously appreciated – somewhere to disperse across Eurasia. Constrained materials such as bone. The second belonging to an anatomically modern dispersal and the history of modern human between 500,000 and 700,000 years ago. between the Mediterranean Sea and method was combined U-series and human. There are features present that evolution – on its head. electron spin resonance dating, which can occasionally be found in members of It is very likely that the spread of humans calculates the age of tooth enamel earlier or even contemporaneous (such as PIECING TOGETHER THE PUZZLE in this area varied considerably, as by the level of radiation uptake in the Neanderthals) hominin species, but the Importantly, the finding that the Misliya reconstructions of the environmental material. The final method used was combination of features exhibited by the fossil dates back 177,000 to 194,000 years conditions at the time suggest that while thermoluminescence dating, which dates Misliya Homo is specific toHomo sapiens. there were some humid phases that burnt flints by the amount of radiation would have been favourable, there were they have absorbed since they were last This discovery is therefore evidence that also dry phases that would discourage heated. All three methods gave consistent early modern humans left Africa at least human dispersal. Therefore, it is possible results, dating the jaw as being between 177,000 to 194,000 years ago (probably as that this early human fossil is evidence of 177,000 and 194,000 years old. early as 250,000 years). This is considerably one of Homo sapiens early attempts at earlier than any other finds indicative of passing into Asia. Additionally, this earlier Analysis of the physical features of the modern humans outside of Africa. Up until movement of modern humans is in line jawbone and teeth confirmed that this the Misliya fossil discovery it was estimated with recent genetic evidence that dates fossil belonged to an anatomically modern from fossils found at the nearby Skhul the interbreeding of Homo sapiens and human. Using the term anatomically and Qafzeh , that early anatomically Neanderthals (which occurred outside of modern humans distinguishes Homo modern humans left Africa 90,000 to Africa) to between 219,000 and 460,000 sapiens from earlier human species as 120,000 years ago. Notably, these dates Figure 6. Reconstruced maxilla years ago. Significantly, together with

www.researchoutreach.org www.researchoutreach.org projectiles (spearheads), which also form this site by early humans, compared to the earliest example in the region. There the apparent short-term occupation of have been finds of similar technologies other locations. across Africa, which could suggest that Behind the Research the spread of these more sophisticated Microscopic analysis revealed evidence tools across Eurasia could be linked to of plant material inside Misliya cave human dispersal. dated from the same period as the early human habitation. The laying of the plant Mina Israel There were many tools found at Misliya material is very similar to finds from later cave, some of which appear to be sites, which have been suggested to be Weinstein-Evron Hershkovitz suited for different tasks but many were evidence of bedding or matting. It is multifunctional. This is an important difficult to determine with certainty that [email protected] +972 543213907 [email protected] +972 509967677 technological shift as it indicates the this was the use of the assemblage, but E: T: E: T: W: ddc.tau.ac.il W: sfai.tau.ac.il development of curated tool-kits. if it is bedding then this would be the Figure 7. Typical Use-wear analysis (close examination earliest example to date. Early Middle flint of the wear patterns on the surfaces Research Objectives Detail points found of tools) suggests that these tools A collection of shells was also found at together with The research of Mina Weinstein-Evron and Israel Hershkovitz centres on were used for a variety of activities the Misliya cave site. There is evidence of Bio Misliya 1 the of the and Old World. Mina Weinstein-Evron: Professor (emerita) of archaeology; including the processing of both meat shell collecting throughout modern human former Head, Zinman Institute of Archaeology, University of and plant foods, hide processing, and history, and many theories for why early Haifa; former Head of ‘Ofakim’: University of Haifa honours woodworking. Surface analysis also humans would gather and store them References program; excavation director, Mount Carmel caves. Research interests: prehistory, human evolution, palaeoenvironments, found significant evidence of a variety - ranging from signalling an individual’s • Hershkovitz, I., et al. (2018). The earliest modern humans outside Africa. technological innovation, symbolism, archive and heritage of handling arrangements. Various tools place in social networks to the possibility 359:456–45. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aap8369 studies, history of archaeology. Recipient, Atapuerca were wrapped in a material such as that they believed they acted as a kind of • Stringer, C., and Galway-Witham, J. (2018). When did modern humans Foundation (Burgos, ), Evolution Award, Scientific hide, to ensure handling without risk good luck charm. Particularly interesting leave Africa? Science 359(6374):389-390. https://doi.org/10.1126/ Values (2017). science.aas8954 of injury on the sharp edges. Others about the shells found at Misliya cave is Israel Hershkovitz: Professor (emeritus) of Anatomy and • Weissbrod, L. and Weinstein-Evron, M. (2021). Early modern human Physical Anthropology at the Department of Anatomy and exhibit clear signs of hafting, i.e., when that they are not perforated. At sites that dispersal into southwest Asia occurred in variable climates: A reply Anthropology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine; Head, The Dan an artifact such as a blade or a point is have been determined as later habitations to Frumkin and Comay (2019). J Hum Evol, 102833. https://doi. David Center for Human Evolution and Research; org/10.1016/j.jhevol.2020.102833 attached to a handle or shaft to facilitate of anatomically modern humans the Head, The Shmunis Family Anthropology Institute; Head, • Zaidner, Y. and Weinstein-Evron, M. (2012). Making a point: The Early Tassia and Dr Joseph Meychan Chair for the History and efficient use. The presence of hafting, shells collected have all been naturally Figure 8. Virtual imaging of Misliya 1 against Middle Palaeolithic tool assemblage of Misliya Cave, Mount Carmel, Philosophy of Medicine, , Tel Aviv, Israel. the site and typical tools including binding, is also a significant perforated, which suggests that they were Israel. Before Farming 4:1-23. https://doi.org/10.3828/bfarm.2012.4.1 Funding technological advancement because it specifically selected for the purpose of • Zaidner, Y. and Weinstein-Evron, M. (2020). The emergence of the Levallois technology in the Levant: A view from the Early Middle Mina Weinstein-Evron: Dan David Foundation, Israel Science their human remains, the long cultural and requires planning to shape the tool in a being displayed as adornment and as Paleolithic site of Misliya Cave, Israel. J Hum Evol, 144. https://doi. Foundation, Leakey Foundation, Irene Levi-Sala Care environmental sequences in cave sites way that is suitable for the attachment of a means of communication. There are org/10.1016/j.jhevol.2020.102785 Archaeological Foundation, the Faculty of Humanities of the University of Haifa. such as those of Mount Carmel, within a handle or other grip. also examples where perforated shells • Groman-Yaroslavski, I., et al. (2016). Abu Sif points: Foraging Dan David Foundation, Shmunis Family their largely Mediterranean environment tools of the Early site of Misliya Cave, Mount Carmel, Israel Hershkovitz: Israel. J Archaeol Sci Reports 7:312-323. https://doi.org/10.1016/j. Anthropology Institute. speak for the potential of appreciable This discovery is evidence that jasrep.2016.05.002 Collaborators persistence of early populations of Homo • Groman-Yaroslavski, I., et al. (2021). Complexity and sophistication of • Mina Weinstein-Evron: Yossi Zaidner, Mathieu Duval, sapiens through relatively high amplitudes Early Middle Paleolithic flint tools revealed through use-wear analysis of Rainer Grün, Helene Valladas, Norbert Mercier, Alexander anatomically modern humans left Africa tools from Misliya Cave, Mount Carmel, Israel. J Hum Evol, 154. https:// of local climate oscillations. Tsatskin, Reuven Yeshurun. doi.org/10.1016/j.jhevol.2021.102955 • Israel Hershkovitz: Gerhard W. Weber, Rachel Sarig, Hila at least 177,000 to 194,000 years ago. • Weinstein-Evron, M. and Zaidner, Y. (2017). The Acheulo-Yabrudian May, Rolf Quam. STONE TOOLS – Early Middle Paleolithic Sequence of Misliya Cave, Mount Carmel, Tens of thousands of stone tools have have been identified as having fibres of Israel. Human and Prehistory Chapter 14:187-201. https:// HEARTHS, BEDDING, AND SHELLS doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-46646-0_14 been found at the Misliya cave site, many The researchers have also described primitive string attached, and some bore • Yeshurun, R., et al. (2020). Site occupation dynamics of early modern Personal Response of which were formed using the Levallois several other interesting finds at the traces of colouring in red . That humans at Misliya Cave (Mount Carmel, Israel): Evidence from the technology. Stone implements produced Misliya cave site, one of which is the the Misliya shells were not perforated spatial taphonomy of mammal remains. J Hum Evol, 143. https://doi. In your opinion, which of the finds at Misliya cave org/10.1016/j.jhevol.2020.102797 is the most important or the most exciting? using this technology are made through evidence of the use of fire. A number means that it can be inferred that the • Weinstein-Evron, M., et al. (2012). A Window into Early Middle the use of a complex pre-planned of small hearths as well as one large invention of string occurred 120,000 The Misliya upper jaw represents the earliest Paleolithic Human Occupational Layers: Misliya Cave, Mount Carmel, known evidence for the presence of Homo sapiens shaping procedure, so they are therefore repeatedly-used hearth have been to 160,000 years ago, and that at that Israel. PaleoAnthropol 202-228. https://doi.org/10.4207/PA.2012. outside of Africa. Deciphering the Misliya migrants’ considered a reflection of greater discovered at the site. The hearths are point early humans began to wear shells ART75 intricate relationships with local populations as well as • Bar-Yosef Mayer, D.E., et al. (2020). On holes and strings: Earliest cognitive capabilities of their makers. visually distinguishable as areas where for ornamentation, something that we ensuing hominin dispersals, such as the Neanderthals, displays of human adornment in the Middle Palaeolithic. Plos One are the main challenges of our future research. At Misliya cave, ample employment of the sediment is of a different colour still do today. 15(7):e023492. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0234924 The jaw was found within an extremely rich full-fledged (fully developed) Levallois from the surrounding area, and analysis archaeological layer providing comprehensive technology, which is the earliest evidence can reveal the presence of ashes and Taken together, the research findings views on the lifeways, technological innovations and of this technology in the area, was found burnt bones or flints. The large size, of Professor Weinstein-Evron, Professor ancient environments of the caves’ inhabitants. The Misliya people were capable hunter-gatherers and in the same stratigraphic layer (sediment density and state of burnt remains, and Hershkovitz and their colleagues provide highly advanced technologically, introducing such and debris accumulation representing recurrent mode of space use around it important insights, not only into the innovations as sophisticated pre-determined methods the specific time episode) as the modern characterise the one hearth which was behaviour of early hominins and their for flint-tool manufacture (Levallois method), flint projectiles and hafting. Marine shells herald such human fossil. The stone-tool assemblage used repeatedly over a considerable technological capabilities but also pushes practices in much later sites, when they were also used is further dominated by abundant blades length of time. This is unique evidence back the history of migration of the as decorative elements. and prolific points, some clearly used as of long-term, repeated occupation of earliest modern humans.

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