Recent geochemical analysis of 780,000-year-old stone tools excavated in Israel highlights that Ashurian (or Acheulean) humans exhibited advanced planning skills and an intricate understanding of their environment by strategically sourcing specific basalt materials.
Basalt slabs from the Ashurian site of Gesher Benot Ya’akov in Israel were essential for bifacial tool production, primarily crafted off-site. Image credit: Chuang Zhao.
Dr. Zahi Golan from the Israel Geological Survey emphasized that “Acquiring suitable raw materials from various locations was vital for prehistoric tool-making.”
“The selection of raw materials reflects a significant behavioral trait of prehistoric communities, demonstrating their environmental awareness and facilitating tool production for over three million years.”
“Two key patterns emerged during human evolution in the Early and Early Middle Pleistocene: heightened variability of raw materials at younger sites and the use of local resources, evident from studies of the Oldowan and Acheulean tools, showing evolving hominin preferences in raw material selection.”
In a comprehensive study, archaeologists focused on basalt artifacts unearthed from the Ashurian site of Gesher Benot Yaakov alongside nearby basalt sources.
The research aimed to trace the origins of materials used in tool-making and to reconstruct the landscape alterations over time.
“Dating back around 780,000 years, this evidence showcases repeated human habitation by Atyur hominins along the shores of Paleo-Fura Lake,” noted the researchers.
“Excavations revealed a rich archaeological array, including stone tools made from flint, limestone, and basalt, alongside evidence of fire use, plant processing, animal exploitation, and fish consumption.”
“Basalt was pivotal for crafting large cutting instruments, such as hatchets and kitchen knives.”
“Previous studies indicated that these tools underwent a complex reduction process, where humans selected sizable basalt stones, formed them into large cores, removed substantial flakes, and refined these into bifacial tools.”
“This process demanded foresight, technical proficiency, and comprehensive knowledge of basalt properties.”
The researchers conducted a detailed chemical analysis of basalt artifacts from several archaeological layers, comparing them with geological samples from associated basalt flows.
Additionally, basalt specimens collected from the Eshel Yaakov borehole at the Gesher Benot Yaakov site were thoroughly analyzed.
Findings indicate that a significant number of basalt artifacts corresponded with sources located in proximity to the site, many within a kilometer.
Some artifacts are linked to basalt formations now concealed beneath the surface.
By integrating geochemical fingerprinting with evidence from deep boreholes, scientists reconstructed segments of the ancient landscape that are no longer visible.
This methodology allowed the identification of basalt flows that were accessible to early humans 780,000 years ago but later became buried or eroded due to tectonic shifts altering the Jordan Valley’s topography.
“This is vital considering that Gesher Benot Yaakov lies within a zone of active tectonic activity along the Dead Sea fault line,” remarked the researchers.
“Faulting, subsidence, erosion, and sedimentation have significantly reshaped the local landscape over millennia.”
“Basalt resources that were once reachable by humans may have since been buried, eroded, or rendered invisible.”
Geochemical analyses further unveiled distinctions between various tool types.
While larger cores were found predominantly linked to nearby basalt sources, certain cleavers appear to have been sourced from locations not represented in the exposed samples.
“This indicates that humans did not merely collect available basalt but chose specific sources based on technical needs, such as size, shape, internal structure, and suitability for crafting knives,” the authors stated.
This investigation also noted variations between tool types. Some knives were crafted from a different basalt source than that used for most hand axes and large cores.
This finding is particularly significant, as prior research shows that creating kitchen knives necessitates a high level of planning and technical skill.
This evidence implies that early humans deliberately sought basalt with qualities tailored to specific tools.
Consistent raw material selection strategies have been noted across multiple archaeological layers, suggesting a sustainable technological tradition that endured for tens of thousands of years.
“These findings suggest that the Ature hominins at Gesher Benot Yaakov possessed intricate environmental knowledge that was preserved and transmitted through generations,” the researchers concluded.
For further details, refer to their paper published in Scientific Reports on May 14, 2026.
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T. Golan et al. Geochemical examination of basalt reveals sourcing strategies at the Ashurian site of Gesher Benot Ya’akov, Dead Sea Transform, Israel. Scientific Reports published online on May 14, 2026. doi: 10.1038/s41598-026-51905-0
Source: www.sci.news