Archaeologists have discovered a rockshelter in Tajikistan’s Zeravshan Valley that was occupied by multiple human species, including Neanderthals, Denisovans and Homo sapiens, for more than 130,000 years. The site, discovered along the Zeravshan River in the Inner Asian Mountain Corridor (IAMC), known as Soi Hwazak, provides new insights into the migration patterns of ancient humans. Researchers believe that the IAMC facilitated interactions between these groups, providing insight into how they lived and possibly co-existed in Central Asia.
Search along the banks of the Zeravshan River
A team led by Dr. Yossi Zaidner, senior lecturer at the Institute of Archeology at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, recently excavated the site. Evidence of various human occupations was found, including stone tools and animal bones dating back 150,000 to 20,000 years. Zeidner said that the IAMC of Central Asia could have served as a natural migration route, allowing different human populations to cross paths. “This discovery is important for understanding the ancient human presence in Central Asia and how different human species may have interacted here,” they said in a press release.
Importance to human migration and interaction
Artifacts from Soi Hawzak, including stone blades, rock fragments, chiseled flint, and signs of fire use, suggest repeated use of the shelter by different human groups. The discovery highlights the importance of Central Asia in ancient migration routes, with the Zeravshan River possibly serving as a route for early humans as they spread across the continent.
A path to ancient civilizations
Beyond its prehistoric importance, the Zaravshan Valley later became a major route on the Silk Road, connecting distant civilizations such as China and Rome. The researchers hope that further studies at Soi Hwajak will shed light on the wider implications of the region in ancient human migration and inter-cultural interaction, with the aim of deepening the understanding of human history and evolution during the Middle Palaeolithic.
