800000 Year Old Campsite in Israel Points to Driftwood as a Critical Early Human Magnet

Published on 24 April 2026

Their choice hinged on one renewable fuel source

New research on an 800,000-year-old campsite near Israel’s Hula Lake suggests early humans picked the location because driftwood was readily available. The wood likely powered fires for warmth and cooking, making it central to survival. At Gesher Benot Ya’aqov, archaeologists also found tool-making activity and evidence of hunting large animals, showing resource management guided settlement decisions.

Early humans camped near Israel’s Hula Lake 800,000 years ago
Driftwood supply appears to have driven the settlement choice
The site shows tool-making and hunting of large animals
Findings highlight fuel and resource planning in human decisions

#archaeology #driftwood #climate and habitat #ancient israel #human evolution

Read the full story at The Economic Times

This summarization was done by Beige for a story published on The Economic Times

800000 Year Old Campsite in Israel Points to Driftwood as a Critical Early Human Magnet

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