A comprehensive geochemical examination of lithic implements dating back 780,000 years in Israel indicates that Acheulean hominins systematically targeted specific basalt deposits. This discovery highlights a sophisticated level of foresight and an intrinsic understanding of their geographical surroundings.
The basalt slabs at the Acheulean site of Gesher Benot Ya‘aqov in Israel were used for biface production, and most of their knapping took place away from the site. Image credit: Chuang Zhao.
“The procurement of appropriate raw materials from diverse origins was a fundamental element in the existence of prehistoric populations, integral to their tool-making endeavors,” stated Dr. Tzahi Golan of the Geological Survey of Israel and his collaborators.
“Consequently, obtaining suitable raw material constituted a pivotal behavioral characteristic within the cultural practices of ancient societies, reflecting their environmental cognizance, which facilitated artifact creation for over three millennia.”
“Two discernible trends—an amplification of raw material diversity at more recent sites and the utilization of proximate geological sources—characterize hominin development throughout the Early and early Middle Pleistocene epochs. This is demonstrably evident through the analysis of Oldowan and Acheulean lithic assemblages, suggesting an evolutionary trajectory in hominin preferences for raw material selection over time.”
Within their recent investigation, the paleoanthropologists meticulously analyzed basaltic artifacts originating from the Acheulean settlement of Gesher Benot Ya‘aqov and adjacent basalt formations.
The primary objective was to ascertain the provenance of the raw materials employed in artifact fabrication and to reconstruct the selection processes employed by early hominins for stone acquisition within a landscape that has undergone profound transformations over millennia.
“Dating to approximately 780,000 years ago, the site preserves evidence of repeated inhabitation by Acheulean hominins along the littoral zones of a paleo-Lake Hula,” they elaborated.
“Archaeological excavations yielded a rich assemblage, encompassing lithic tools fashioned from flint, limestone, and basalt, alongside indications of fire utilization, plant processing, animal butchery, and ichthyophagy.”
“Basalt represented a critical raw material at this locale, particularly for the manufacture of substantial cutting implements such as handaxes and cleavers.”
“Prior investigations elucidated that these tools were fabricated through an intricate sequence of reduction: hominins selected large basalt slabs, meticulously shaped them into substantial cores, subsequently detached large flakes, and finally refined these flakes into bifacial implements.”
“This manufacturing process necessitated strategic planning, considerable technical proficiency, and an in-depth comprehension of basalt’s inherent characteristics.”
The research team conducted an in-depth analysis of the elemental composition of basaltic artifacts from various stratigraphic layers, juxtaposing these findings with geological samples collected from basalt flows encircling the site.
Additionally, they analyzed basalt fragments recovered from the Eshel Ya‘aqov borehole, which was drilled at the Gesher Benot Ya‘aqov excavation area.
The analytical outcomes revealed a significant concordance between numerous basalt artifacts and geological sources situated in close proximity to the settlement, in certain instances within approximately one kilometer.
A subset of the artifacts also demonstrated correspondence with basalt strata that are currently subterranean, no longer accessible at the surface.
By integrating geochemical fingerprinting with data derived from deep boreholes beneath the archaeological locality, the scientific team succeeded in delineating aspects of an ancient topography that has since vanished.
This methodological approach enabled them to identify basalt flows that were accessible to hominins 780,000 years ago but were subsequently submerged or eroded due to the ongoing tectonic reconfiguration of the Jordan Valley.
“This finding is particularly pertinent given the location of Gesher Benot Ya‘aqov within a tectonically volatile region along the Dead Sea Transform fault system,” they remarked.
“The local topography has been continuously reshaped by faulting, subsidence, erosion, and the accumulation of sediments.”
“Basalt flows once readily available to hominins may subsequently have become buried, degraded, or removed from the visible surface.”
The geochemical findings further illuminated differential sourcing patterns correlated with distinct artifact categories.
Large cores exhibited a strong association with proximal and submerged local basalt deposits. In contrast, certain cleavers appeared to have originated from sources not represented among the sampled surface exposures.
“This suggests that hominins did not indiscriminately gather any available basalt, but rather selectively exploited particular sources predicated on technological imperatives, such as slab dimensions, morphology, internal structure, or suitability for cleaver manufacture,” the authors posited.
The research also identified discernible variations among different tool typologies: some cleavers appear to have been fabricated from basalt sources distinct from those utilized for the majority of handaxes and giant cores.
This observation carries considerable weight, as prior studies conducted at the site demonstrated that cleaver production demanded exceptionally advanced levels of foresight and technical mastery.
The evidence collectively implies that hominins intentionally sought out basalt possessing specific attributes tailored to the creation of particular implements.
The observed raw-material selection strategies exhibited remarkable consistency across multiple stratigraphic horizons, signifying a long-standing technological tradition that endured for tens of thousands of years.
“The findings indicate that Acheulean hominins inhabiting Gesher Benot Ya‘aqov possessed intricate environmental knowledge that was effectively preserved and transmitted through successive generations,” the researchers concluded.
Their publication detailing these discoveries was disseminated on May 14 in the prestigious journal Scientific Reports.
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T. Golan et al. Geochemical basalt investigation reveals procurement strategy at the Acheulian site of Gesher Benot Ya‘aqov, Dead Sea Transform, Israel. Sci Rep, published online May 14, 2026; doi: 10.1038/s41598-026-51905-0
