Tracking the dispersal of Homo sapiens into the Levant and across wider Eurasia

Introduction

The diaspora of modern humans from Africa into Eurasia and beyond is one of the seminal chapters in the history of our species. Modern humans emerged in Africa by 250-300,000 years ago. Their several subsequent dispersals outwards must have followed one of two routes, the most likely being across the Sinai Peninsula and Levantine corridor.

Encounter with Neanderthals and Denisovans

Here, they would have encountered resident Neanderthals and beyond, into Eurasia, the Denisovans. A major dispersal of modern humans by ~50,000 years ago, hypothesized to be linked with the Initial Upper Palaeolithic, is paralleled by further development of aspects of behavioural modernity. This includes:

• The increased presence of symbolic objects
• Art
• New types of technology
• The ability to adapt and survive in novel and challenging environments

Ksar Akil Site

The Lebanese site of Ksar Akil is the ‘type site’ for the Palaeolithic in the key Levant region. First excavated in the 1930s/40s, and again in the 1970s, it contains a deep ~23m sequence.

Importance and Potential

Sadly, despite its importance, its potential has never been realized. However, it is clear that it can contribute greatly to our understanding of:

• Human presence
• Climate and environmental changes over the last ~90,000 years

Project Goals

This project plans to reveal this potential by applying the latest sediment DNA approaches to:

1. Determine the presence of different hominins through the archaeological sequence
2. Date the site reliably for the first time
3. Analyze its stone tool remains
4. Generate a paleoenvironmental and climatic history

Data Collation and Hypothesis Testing

In parallel, we will collate new and unpublished data from a range of similar Palaeolithic sites from across Eurasia, to test hypotheses concerning the movement of early human groups into and out of the region.

Legacy Value

The project will contribute a strong legacy value for local Lebanese archaeology and students, as well as internationally in building a fuller and more nuanced understanding of the late period of human evolution.