Earliest Evidence of Humans in Rainforests Discovered

A groundbreaking study has revealed that humans were living in African rainforests at least 150,000 years ago—far earlier than previously thought. Conducted by an international team of researchers, the study challenges the long-held belief that rainforests acted as barriers to early human settlement.

The discovery was made in Côte d’Ivoire at the Anyama archaeological site, which was first explored in the 1980s. Initial excavations revealed ancient stone tools, but the exact age and ecological context of the site remained unknown. Recent advancements in dating techniques have now confirmed that early humans inhabited this dense rainforest region much earlier than estimated.

Lead researcher Dr. Eslem Ben Arous explained that previous evidence of human presence in African rainforests dated back only 18,000 years, while the oldest known rainforest occupation globally was from Southeast Asia, about 70,000 years ago. The new findings more than double this timeline, pushing the earliest known human habitation of rainforests back by 150,000 years.

The research team used advanced dating methods, including Optically Stimulated Luminescence and Electron Spin Resonance, to determine the age of the artifacts. Additionally, sediment samples were analyzed for pollen, phytoliths (fossilized plant remains), and leaf wax isotopes, confirming that the site was a densely forested environment at the time of human occupation.

Professor Eleanor Scerri from the Max Planck Institute for Geoanthropology emphasized the importance of this discovery, stating that the findings reshape our understanding of human evolution and migration. She highlighted the need to explore how early human expansion into rainforests may have impacted local ecosystems and biodiversity.

Professor Yodé Guédé, who first studied the site, noted that this is just the beginning. Many other unexplored sites in Côte d’Ivoire could provide further insights into human presence in rainforests.

This study not only rewrites the history of human adaptation to extreme environments but also raises new questions about the long-term impact of human activity on the natural world.