A stone hand-axe discovered beside a river in Sharbazher district, Sulaimani, may date back between 300,000 and 200,000 years, according to a preliminary assessment by archaeologists.Image credit: The New Region
The discovery was announced by Dlshad Zamua, an archaeologist and professor at the University of Sulaimani, who said the tool was found near Waja village.
Based on its size, manufacturing style and the type of stone from which it was made, archaeologists consulted about the object believe it belongs to a transitional period between the Lower and Middle Paleolithic.
However, researchers stress that its precise age has not yet been established. Further investigation will be required to determine whether the preliminary estimate can be confirmed.
A Stone Tool Found Beside a River
The hand-axe was discovered on the boundary of Waja village in Sharbazher, on the bank of a river.
According to Zamua, the tool was made from a stone resembling quartz, a material found locally in the area.
Following the discovery, Kurdish specialists from the Kurdistan Region and western and southern Iran were consulted about the artefact.
The specialists broadly agreed that the object belonged to the Old Stone Age, or Paleolithic period.
Its size and manufacturing characteristics subsequently led the majority of those who assessed it to place it approximately between the end of the Lower Paleolithic and the beginning of the Middle Paleolithic.
That preliminary assessment corresponds to an estimated age of roughly 300,000 to 200,000 years.
A Preliminary Date, Not a Final One
The proposed age of the hand-axe is significant, but researchers are emphasizing that it remains an estimate.
Zamua noted that determining the artefact's precise age will require further research. The current date range is based on an initial assessment of its physical characteristics and manufacturing style and could therefore be revised.
This distinction is particularly important for an isolated stone tool, where establishing an exact archaeological chronology can require additional contextual and scientific evidence.
For now, the discovery should therefore be described as a possible 300,000-to-200,000-year-old hand-axe, rather than an artefact with a definitively established age.
Why the River Setting Matters
The discovery was made beside a river, a setting that Zamua connected with the behavior of prehistoric human groups during the period in question.
He explained that people during this era often established temporary settlements near rivers.
According to his interpretation, during colder climatic conditions when rivers froze, hand-axes could have been used to break through ice.
The discovery therefore raises questions about how prehistoric communities interacted with the river environments of the Kurdistan Region.
The source does not establish that this particular hand-axe was used for breaking ice, however, so the proposed function remains an interpretation rather than a demonstrated use.
Evidence for Kurdistan's Deep Prehistory
The discovery contributes to a growing body of archaeological evidence for the extremely long history of human occupation in the Kurdistan Region.
The region contains several important prehistoric sites that have already provided evidence for ancient human communities.
Among them is Shanidar Cave, famous for its Neanderthal remains, while Jarmo is associated with some of the earliest known farming communities.
The newly discovered stone tool represents a much earlier period, potentially extending the archaeological story of the region deep into the Paleolithic.
If its preliminary dating is supported by further research, it could provide another important piece of evidence for understanding early human activity in the landscape.
What Hand-Axes Tell Archaeologists
Stone hand-axes are among the characteristic tools associated with Paleolithic technology.
Their manufacture required the deliberate shaping of stone to create usable edges and surfaces. Variations in size, shape and production technique can provide archaeologists with clues about technological traditions and chronology.
In the Sharbazher discovery, researchers are using precisely these characteristics — particularly the object's size and manufacturing style — to propose its broad chronological placement.
Further analysis could therefore help establish whether the initial assessment remains consistent with the archaeological evidence.
A Rare Discovery in the Kurdistan Region
The find has been described as rare and unexpected, highlighting the potential for prehistoric discoveries outside the region's better-known archaeological sites.
Because the object was found in a riverbank setting rather than being reported from a major excavated prehistoric settlement, its broader archaeological context may require additional investigation.
Future research could help determine more about the tool's age, manufacture and relationship to the surrounding landscape.
For now, its significance lies both in the artefact itself and in what it suggests about the potential for discovering evidence of very early human activity in the region.
Conclusion
A stone hand-axe discovered near Waja village in Sharbazher, Sulaimani, may be between 300,000 and 200,000 years old, according to a preliminary assessment by archaeologists.
Its manufacturing style, size and stone composition led specialists consulted by University of Sulaimani archaeologist Dlshad Zamua to place it around the transition between the Lower and Middle Paleolithic.
The precise age, however, remains unconfirmed and could change following further research.
If the preliminary estimate is eventually supported, the hand-axe would provide another important window into the deep prehistoric history of the Kurdistan Region — a landscape already known for archaeological sites documenting some of the earliest chapters of human history.
FAQ
How old is the stone hand-axe discovered in Sharbazher?
Archaeologists have provisionally estimated that it dates to approximately 300,000 to 200,000 years ago.
Where was the hand-axe discovered?
It was found on the bank of a river near the boundary of Waja village in Sharbazher district, Sulaimani, Iraq.
Who announced the discovery?
The discovery was announced by Dlshad Zamua, an archaeologist and professor at the University of Sulaimani.
What was the hand-axe made from?
The tool was made from a type of stone resembling quartz, which is found in the local area.
Is the 300,000-year date confirmed?
No. The date is a preliminary assessment based on the tool's size and manufacturing style. Further research is needed to establish its precise age.
What archaeological period does the tool belong to?
Specialists consulted about the artefact believe it dates to the transition between the Lower Paleolithic and Middle Paleolithic.
What may the hand-axe have been used for?
Zamua suggested that people living near rivers during cold periods may have used such tools to break through ice. However, the specific function of this artefact has not been demonstrated.
Why is the discovery important?
The hand-axe adds to archaeological evidence for the Kurdistan Region's deep prehistoric history and could provide evidence of human activity hundreds of thousands of years ago if its preliminary dating is confirmed.
