Archaeologists have uncovered a large number of ancient stone tools near the ruins of Assos, a historic Greekcity along Turkey’s Çanakkale coast. This discovery, described as the most significant of its kind on Turkey’s western shoreline, could shift long-held beliefs about how early humans entered Europe.
The tools, which date back to the early phases of human history, were found at an open-air site called Biber Deresi, just two kilometers from Assos. Researchers say the area once served as a key natural corridor between Asia and Europe when sea levels were much lower than today. The findings suggest that early humans may have used this route to travel and settle across new lands.
Biber Deresi lies close to a landscape that once included rivers, abundant stone sources, and land bridges connecting what is now Turkey to nearby Aegean islands such as Lesbos. These conditions would have made it easier for ancient humans to move across regions, taking their knowledge and toolmaking skills with them.
Ancient stone tools offer clues to early migration routes
The research, led by archaeologist Göknur Karahan and published in the European Journal of Archaeology, documents more than 500 stone artifacts from surveys conducted between 2021 and 2022. Tools were uncovered in areas shaped by seasonal floods, such as olive groves and hillside slopes. Despite being affected by erosion, the tools display consistent styles and techniques.
Most notable among the discoveries are large hand axes — some roughly shaped and others finely crafted. Other tools include picks and cleavers, along with numerous chopping instruments made from pebbles. Archaeologists also found flakes carefully chipped from stone cores, suggesting that toolmakers followed thoughtful methods to achieve desired shapes.
The majority of tools were made from flint, although other materials such as basalt, quartz, and limestone were also used. Many of the tools show signs of weathering, indicating they were exposed to the elements for long periods. Despite these changes, the overall design patterns suggest the tools were part of a single cultural tradition, not from different groups or time periods.
A new chapter in the story of human movement
Until now, experts believed early humans mainly entered Europe through three key routes: across Gibraltar, through Sicily, or via the Levant and into the Balkans. While the Levant route — stretching through the Middle East and Anatolia — has long been considered the most likely path, western Turkey had little evidence to support that theory. The discovery at Biber Deresi changes that.
The site offers strong proof that early humans once traveled across what is now the northern Aegean region. During the Ice Age, lower sea levels likely turned the Aegean Sea into a series of land bridges, linking the Turkish coast to the Greek islands and mainland Europe. The newly found tools suggest this route was not only possible but heavily used.
Close to where the philosopher Aristotle once lived and taught, the Biber Deresi site paints a broader picture of the region’s role as a meeting point of cultures and ideas. From Stone Age toolmakers to ancient Greek thinkers, the same stretch of coastline served as a vital connection between East and West.
Karahan’s team is currently working on dating the tools more precisely. If confirmed, the findings could help researchers rewrite the map of early human migration across continents.