New Study Puts Hominins in Israel 1.9 Million Years Ago, Rewriting Earliest Human Migration

A groundbreaking new study published on Sunday, February 22, has redated the ‘Ubeidiya archaeological site in Israel’s Jordan Valley to 1.9 million years ago, making it contemporaneous with a site in Georgia long considered the earliest evidence of hominins outside Africa. The findings significantly shake up what scientists know about the earliest migrations out of the cradle of human life.

Until now, scholars believed the population at Dmanisi, Georgia, represented an earlier group than those at ‘Ubeidiya, with different anatomical features and distinct stone tools. The new study suggests that at least two distinct groups migrated out of Africa at roughly the same time, one crafting the Oldowan stone-tool tradition found at Dmanisi and another producing the more advanced Acheulian tools discovered at ‘Ubeidiya.

The Israel Antiquities Authority described the site as “a national treasure” and “the earliest prehistoric site discovered outside Africa,” stressing that it must remain accessible so visitors can experience the ancient landscapes of Israel and learn about the early humans who once lived there. The discovery reaffirms Israel’s extraordinary significance not only in the history of civilization but in the very story of humanity itself. (TOI/VFI News)

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