Cave formation rewrites history of agriculture

Scientists studying a stalagmite in the Kurdistan region of Iraq have found evidence that people developed key farming practices much earlier than previously thought.

Researchers analysed the stalagmite from the Hsārok cave, which formed between 18,000 and 7,500 years ago, to understand climate conditions during a critical period as the Earth emerged from the last glacial period. The stalagmite’s composition revealed a period of increased rainfall around 14,560 years ago, followed by drier conditions around 12,700 years ago.

These climate shifts coincided with changes recorded in Greenland’s ice cores, confirming the local data’s accuracy. The study shows that before permanent settlements arose, communities in the Zagros foothills, a region within the Fertile Crescent, adapted to a shifting landscape with seasonal movement and flexible resource use. This adaptability allowed them to develop the skills and social organisation needed for agriculture when the climate stabilised.

Archaeological records from nearby caves like Palegawra support this timeline, showing increased human activity during warmer, wetter periods and a decline during drier times. The researchers published their findings in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, adding to our understanding of how climate change influenced early human life and the beginnings of civilisation.