Scientists studying ancient human remains in Ethiopia may have uncovered the earliest known evidence of human cremation, dating back about 100,000 years.
The discovery comes from an international research team that includes scientists from University of Oulu.
Their findings were published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
The research focuses on the Afar Rift in Ethiopia, an important region for studying human evolution.
Scientists have been investigating the area for decades as part of the long-running Middle Awash project, which examines how early humans lived and adapted to their environment.
Among the discoveries were fossils from early Homo sapiens. Some of the human bones showed signs of exposure to extremely high heat, suggesting they may have been intentionally burned.
If confirmed, this could represent the oldest evidence yet found of cremation by humans.
Researchers say the findings are especially important because well-preserved open-air archaeological sites from this period are extremely rare.
Much of what scientists know about early humans comes from cave sites, where layers of material can become mixed or disturbed over time.
At this Ethiopian site, however, the fossils and artifacts remained largely untouched in the ground, giving scientists a much clearer picture of how the area was used.
The study also revealed clues about the difficult conditions early humans faced. Some of the bones contained bite marks from predators, while others appeared to have been buried suddenly, possibly by flooding.
According to the researchers, local environmental conditions played a major role in shaping human life in the region. Rather than being driven mainly by global climate changes, early people seem to have been strongly affected by the seasonal flood cycles of the ancient Awash River.
Thousands of stone tools were found scattered across the site, suggesting that groups of humans repeatedly returned to the area for short stays. The floodplain may have offered temporary access to water, animals, and other resources during certain times of the year.
Scientists also discovered rare obsidian artifacts. Obsidian is a volcanic glass used to make sharp cutting tools, and the material likely came from distant areas. This suggests that early humans traveled long distances or exchanged materials across large regions.
The team also analyzed more than 3,000 animal fossils from the site. These included remains of monkeys, rodents, and large mammals, helping researchers reconstruct the ancient ecosystem in which humans lived.
The findings paint a picture of highly adaptable humans living in a changing and sometimes dangerous environment. They moved across the landscape, used advanced stone tools, and may even have practiced early forms of cremation.
Researchers say the site provides one of the clearest views yet of how early modern humans behaved in East Africa during a critical period of human evolution.
The discoveries may help scientists better understand not only how our ancestors survived, but also how early human cultural practices may have begun to emerge tens of thousands of years earlier than previously believed.
