1.5 Million-Year-Old Hand Axes and Seven Paleolithic Sites Discovered in Iraq's Western Desert

Arkeonews
3 February 2025

Archaeologists from the Free University of Brussels (VUB) uncovered hand axes dating back 1.5 million years and discovered seven Paleolithic sites in an area of 10 by 20 km in Iraq’s Western Desert.

Ella Egberts, a researcher from VUB (Vrije Universiteit Brussel), traveled to Iraq in November and December as part of a pilot project aimed at searching for archaeological surface materials in the Al-Shabakah area.

These materials are intended to provide insights into the Iraqi Western Desert’s geomorphological history and explore the potential for preserving archaeological sites with Old and Middle Paleolithic artifacts. Egberts confirmed that the campaign was a great success

“The targeted fieldwork resulted in the discovery of seven Paleolithic sites in an area of 10 by 20 km,” Egberts stated. “One location was selected for a systematic study to determine the spatial distribution of the Paleolithic material and to conduct preliminary technological and typological analyses.”

The prospecting campaign focused on an area that housed a large lake during the Pleistocene, which is now completely dried up, with ancient wadis or dry riverbeds crossing the landscape. Egberts collected over 850 artifacts, ranging from very old hand axes from the Early or Old Paleolithic to Levallois reduction flakes from the Middle Paleolithic, all surface materials.

More:
https://arkeonews.net/1-5-million-year-old-hand-axes-and-seven-paleolithic-sites-discovered-in-iraqs-western-desert/