Rock shelter in Tajikistan reveals ancient human migration routes
Archaeologists have discovered a rock shelter in Tajikistan’s Zeravshan Valley that was inhabited for more than 130,000 years by multiple human species, including Neanderthals, Denisovans and Homo sapiens. Discovered along the Zeravshan River in the Inner Asian Mountain Corridor (IAMC), this site, known as Soii Havzak, offers new insight into the migration patterns of ancient people. Researchers believe the IAMC may have facilitated interactions between these groups and provided clues to how they lived and possibly coexisted in Central Asia.
Discovery along the Zeravshan River
A team led by Dr. Yossi Zaidner, senior lecturer at the Institute of Archeology of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, recently excavated the site. Evidence of various human occupations was found, including stone tools and animal bones dating from 150,000 to 20,000 years ago. Zaidner noted that the IAMC in Central Asia could have served as a natural migration route, allowing different human populations to intersect. “This discovery is crucial for understanding ancient human presence in Central Asia and how different human species may have interacted here,” he stated in a press release.
Significance for human migration and interaction
Artifacts from Soii Havzak, including stone blades, rock flakes, worked flints, and signs of fire use, suggest repeated use of the shelter by different human groups. The find highlights the significance of Central Asia in ancient migration routes, with the Zeravshan River likely serving as a route for early humans as they spread across continents.
A path for ancient civilizations
In addition to its prehistoric importance, the Zeravshan Valley later became an important route on the Silk Road, connecting distant civilizations such as China and Rome. Researchers expect that further studies at Soii Havzak will shed light on the broader implications of this region in terms of ancient human migration and intercultural interactions, with the aim of deepening the understanding of human history and evolution during the Middle Paleolithic.
