Story perspectives

Ancient Hand Axes Reveal Early Human Symbolism in Israel

3/22/2026

Summary

Story summary

A Tel Aviv Journal study reports that ancient humans in northern Israel, about 500,000 years ago, crafted hand axes from stones with fossils and crystals.
Prof. Ran Barkai, the lead researcher, says the tools reflect an aesthetic or symbolic belief system, evidenced by the prominent geological features.
The Sakhnin Valley artifacts lie along elephant migration routes, and Barkai argues that the extinction of large game may have driven evolutionary changes.

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Story summary

A Tel Aviv Journal study reports that ancient humans in northern Israel, about 500,000 years ago, crafted hand axes from stones with fossils and crystals.
Prof. Ran Barkai, the lead researcher, says the tools reflect an aesthetic or symbolic belief system, evidenced by the prominent geological features.
The Sakhnin Valley artifacts lie along elephant migration routes, and Barkai argues that the extinction of large game may have driven evolutionary changes.