Archaeologists discover 1.5 million-year-old hand axes, paleolithic sites in Iraq’s Western Desert

Archaeologists from the Free University of Brussels (VUB) have uncovered 1.5 million-year-old hand axes and identified seven Paleolithic sites in Iraq’s Western Desert, Arkeonews reported.

The discoveries were made during a recent field survey led by researcher Ella Egberts, aimed at studying archaeological surface materials and the region’s geomorphological history.

The team collected over 850 artifacts, ranging from Early Paleolithic hand axes to Middle Paleolithic Levallois flakes, in an area that once housed a large Pleistocene lake.

Egberts emphasized that the distribution of these sites offers valuable insights into early human landscape use, with plans for expanded research and systematic analysis in the future.

Beyond excavation, the project included training Iraqi archaeology students in geo-archaeology and Paleolithic studies. Findings were also shared at academic conferences and public events in Iraq, with outreach efforts extending to local schools.