Ancient Land Bridge Uncovered by Archaeologists

Quick Smiles:

• New evidence suggests early humans traveled between Turkey and Europe via a now-submerged land bridge.
• A fully female team discovered 138 stone tools in Ayvalık, Turkey, unlocking the region’s Paleolithic history.
• Findings may reshape our understanding of how humans first entered Europe.

Recent research in Ayvalık, along Turkey’s northeastern Aegean coast, has revealed the first traces of Paleolithic activity in the region. The study shows that stretches of land now underwater likely served as a vital passage for ancient humans venturing into Europe.

Researchers uncovered 138 stone tools across 10 sites, suggesting that Ayvalık was not only scenic but historically significant for human migration.

“It was a truly unforgettable moment for us, holding the first tools in our hands was both emotional and inspiring,” explains Dr. Göknur Karahan from Hacettepe University.

The tools—handaxes, cleavers, and sophisticated Levallois-style implements—offer direct evidence that this area was part of technological traditions shared across continents.

During the Ice Age, lower sea levels connected Ayvalık’s islands and peninsulas, creating a land bridge linking Anatolia and Europe. This discovery places Ayvalık on the map of human prehistory.

The geology and active coastline made preservation difficult, but the research team managed to reveal important artifacts against these odds.

“In all these periods, the present-day islands and peninsulas of Ayvalık would have formed interior zones within an expansive terrestrial environment,” explains co-author Professor Kadriye Özçelik from Ankara University.

These discoveries highlight Ayvalık’s importance as an ancient corridor for movement and exchange.

Researchers recommend further analysis to better define when the tools were used and to shed more light on this ancient migration route.

“Multidisciplinary approaches will help illuminate the region’s role not as a peripheral landscape, but as an active corridor of Paleolithic interaction and innovation.”

Stories like this remind us that every discovery opens a new chapter in our shared human story, and the future holds exciting possibilities for uncovering even more.

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