Ella Egberts, a researcher from the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), embarked on a groundbreaking archaeological expedition in Iraq in November and December as part of a pilot project aimed at uncovering surface artifacts from the Paleolithic era. Her research focuses on the geomorphological history of the Iraqi Western Desert, specifically in the Al-Shabakah region. This endeavor seeks not only to explore early human activity in the area but also to assess the potential for preserving significant archaeological sites dating back to the Old and Middle Paleolithic periods, spanning hundreds of thousands of years. The campaign yielded exceptional results, and Egberts is now eager to extend her research efforts in collaboration with VUB.
Egberts enthusiastically describes the success of the fieldwork, emphasizing the significant discoveries made in a relatively small survey area. “The fieldwork was a huge success,” she confirms. “Our targeted approach led to the discovery of seven Paleolithic sites within an area measuring just 10 by 20 kilometers. Among these, one location was selected for a systematic study to analyze the spatial distribution of the Paleolithic artifacts and to conduct preliminary technological and typological examinations.”
Her research is centered on a region that, during the Pleistocene epoch, once held a vast lake. Today, this body of water has completely dried up, leaving behind ancient wadis—dry riverbeds that carve through the arid desert landscape. The remnants of this prehistoric environment have preserved a wealth of archaeological material, offering critical insights into early human activity in the region. Egberts and her team managed to collect over 850 artifacts from the surface, including hand axes from the Early Paleolithic period and Levallois reduction flakes characteristic of Middle Paleolithic stone tool technology. These artifacts reflect distinct phases of human technological evolution and provide a tangible record of human adaptation to changing environments.
Beyond the primary excavation site, Egberts emphasizes that the other newly discovered locations are equally promising. “The other sites also deserve equally thorough systematic investigation, which will undoubtedly yield similar quantities of lithic material,” she notes. Expanding the research to a broader geographical area and incorporating a more extensive analysis of artifacts will allow Egberts to refine her understanding of human activity in the Western Desert over thousands of years.
One of the most compelling aspects of her findings is the emerging evidence of early human landscape use. The distribution of sites, combined with an evolving understanding of the region’s geomorphological history, provides valuable clues about how ancient populations inhabited and traversed this arid environment. “Based on the distribution of the sites and the advancing understanding of the region’s geomorphological history, there are emerging clues of early human landscape use. In the future, I hope to expand my research to a larger area, systematically sample all the sites, and conduct in-depth technological and typological artifact analysis,” she explains. By integrating these insights into broader research on human evolution and behavior across the Arabian Peninsula, Egberts aims to contribute to the ongoing study of early hominin dispersals and adaptations.
Egberts’ work in Iraq extends beyond excavation and analysis; it also has an important educational and capacity-building dimension. Recognizing the need to train local archaeologists and enhance expertise in geo-archaeology and Paleolithic archaeology, she made it a priority to involve Iraqi students in the research process. “An essential part of the fieldwork was training Iraqi archaeology students in geo-archaeology and Paleolithic archaeology. Three students accompanied us in the field, and through a workshop at Al-Qadisiyah University after the fieldwork, we inspired many more students and academics about the Paleolithic of Iraq.” This knowledge-sharing initiative ensures that the discoveries made in Iraq will continue to be studied and preserved by future generations of Iraqi archaeologists.
Egberts and her team also made a concerted effort to engage with the broader academic community, local stakeholders, and the general public. She recounts her participation in various outreach activities, including a conference in Karbala where she presented her findings to a multidisciplinary academic audience interested in the history of the Western Desert. “At the Writers’ Union in Najaf, we presented our results to the general public and the press. And it was wonderful to teach local elementary school children about prehistoric flint discoveries.” These efforts help foster a greater appreciation for Iraq’s deep prehistoric past, countering the prevailing perception that the country’s history is primarily defined by Mesopotamian civilizations.
Contrary to the widespread view of Iraq as a conflict-ridden region fraught with instability, Egberts describes her experience in the country as largely positive. While security concerns initially delayed the expedition, her fieldwork ultimately proceeded without major obstacles. “Apart from the presence of numerous checkpoints, we were able to carry out our work without any problems. The people are friendly, and it’s actually very nice to work in Iraq,” she remarks. However, she acknowledges that the expedition was postponed earlier in the year due to a security warning, possibly linked to geopolitical tensions, including the war in Gaza.
Despite these challenges, Egberts’ research has received strong support from Iraq’s archaeological authorities. “The Iraqi State Board of Antiquities and Heritage appreciates our work and encourages us to continue,” she says. With this institutional backing, she now plans to advance her research at VUB. “The next step will be to secure funding, with which I hope to reconstruct Pleistocene environmental changes and early human presence and behavior in the Western Desert.”
Egberts’ pioneering work in Iraq is a testament to the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in uncovering humanity’s distant past. By combining archaeology with geomorphology, she is not only revealing crucial details about early human life in a region often overlooked in Paleolithic studies but also ensuring that Iraq’s prehistoric heritage is documented, understood, and appreciated both locally and internationally. Her future research promises to further illuminate the ancient landscapes that once shaped human evolution, opening new doors for the study of early human migrations and adaptations in arid environments.