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Ancient Charcoal Study Reveals Early Human Intelligence

4/15/2026

Summary

Story summary

A study in Quaternary Science Reviews reports that 780,000-year-old charcoal from Gesher Bnot Ya'akov indicates advanced intelligence.
The analysis of 266 charcoal fragments found plant traces, including oldest known pomegranate wood in the Levant, and shows that early humans used driftwood from the lake shore for firewood and cooked fish.
Past excavations led by Professor Naama Goren-Inbar uncovered stone tools, animal remains, and bones of a straight-tusked elephant.

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Story summary

A study in Quaternary Science Reviews reports that 780,000-year-old charcoal from Gesher Bnot Ya'akov indicates advanced intelligence.
The analysis of 266 charcoal fragments found plant traces, including oldest known pomegranate wood in the Levant, and shows that early humans used driftwood from the lake shore for firewood and cooked fish.
Past excavations led by Professor Naama Goren-Inbar uncovered stone tools, animal remains, and bones of a straight-tusked elephant.