(ORDO NEWS) — During excavations near the city of Dimona, Israeli archaeologists have discovered many flint tools that have never been encountered in Israel before. They are made in a technique typical for the ancient inhabitants of Africa.
The Jerusalem Post tells about the discovery with reference to a statement by the Israel Antiquities Authority. The study proves that at least 100,000 years ago, the Negev was crossed by people moving from Africa.
This is indicated by artifacts discovered during excavations near the city of Dimona. Archaeologists have discovered many flint tools there, carved in the Nubian Levallois technique. Such weapons have been found in Africa, but no one has ever encountered them in Israel before. This discovery offers a new understanding of the route that our ancestors followed from Africa.
“This method of stone processing is identified with modern people who lived in East Africa 150-100 years ago and migrated from there all over the world,” according to a press release from the Israel Antiquities Authority. “Over the past decade, many Nubian sites have been discovered on the Arabian Peninsula. This fact has led many scientists to believe that this region was the exodus of modern people from Africa.The site near Dimona is probably the northernmost point of penetration of the “Levallois industry” from there, thereby marking the migration route from Africa to Saudi Arabia and from there, possibly , to the Negev desert. ”
The so-called Levallois technique has unique characteristics, so it cannot be confused with another technique. It was a rather complex method of stone processing, but it allowed controlling the size and shape of the tool.
Ancient craftsmen made radial chips along the edges, obtaining a disk-shaped blank, resembling a tortoise shell. Then, from one to several tools, flat on one side and having sharp cutting edges, were chipped from it. They were often used as knives and tips.
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