Ancient Tools Reveal Potential Early Human Route From Turkey to Europe Via Lost Land Bridge
AYVALIK, TURKEY – A groundbreaking archaeological finding in Ayvalık, Turkey, is rewriting the story of early human migration into Europe. Newly unearthed Paleolithic tools suggest Homo sapiens may have walked from Anatolia into the continent across a now-submerged land bridge during the last Ice Age, offering a compelling option to the long-held belief that migration primarily occurred through the Levant and the Balkans.
The findings, published Friday in the journal of Island and Coastal Archaeology, reveal a previously undocumented Paleolithic presence in the northeastern Aegean region. during the Pleistocene Epoch – roughly 2.6 million to 11,700 years ago – lower sea levels created a land connection between modern-day Turkey and mainland Europe. This forgotten pathway could have provided a crucial route for early humans dispersing across the continent.
The research team,led by archaeologists from Hacettepe University,uncovered Paleolithic hand axes,cleavers,and Levallois flake tools – stone implements with sharp edges likely used as knives – in the Ayvalık area. These artifacts indicate human presence in a landscape dramatically different from today’s, one where islands and peninsulas were part of a continuous landmass.
“the presence of these objects in Ayvalık is especially important, as they provide direct evidence that the region was part of wider technological traditions shared across Africa, Asia, and Europe,” said archaeologist Göknur Karahan in a statement.”It was a truly unforgettable moment for us.Holding the first tools in our hands was both emotional and inspiring.”
For decades, the prevailing theory posited that Homo sapiens primarily reached Europe by traveling through the Levant (the eastern Mediterranean) and the Balkans. However, the Ayvalık discoveries challenge this narrative, suggesting a more complex pattern of dispersal. The last Ice Age, spanning approximately 120,000 to 11,500 years ago, dramatically lowered sea levels, exposing vast stretches of land that are now underwater. This created a viable route for early humans to move westward.
Researchers acknowledge that further investigation is needed to solidify their theory. Substantive artifact dating, detailed stratigraphic excavations, and reconstructions of the ancient environment are crucial next steps. The team also plans to explore the possibility of finding additional artifacts on the Aegean seabed, possibly revealing further evidence of this lost land bridge and the early humans who traversed it.
