In November and December 2024, VUB researcher Ella Egberts embarked on a pilot project in the Iraqi Western Desert, specifically in the Al-Shabakah area, to investigate archaeological surface material. The project aimed to provide new insights into the region’s geomorphological history and assess the potential for preserving sites containing Old and Middle Paleolithic artifacts. The field campaign proved highly successful, paving the way for further research.
“Our targeted fieldwork resulted in the discovery of seven Paleolithic sites within a 10 by 20 km area,” Egberts reports. “One site was selected for systematic study to better understand the spatial distribution of artifacts and to conduct preliminary technological and typological analyses.”
Egberts and her team focused on an area that, during the Pleistocene, contained a large lake, now dried up and intersected by ancient wadis. Over 850 lithic artifacts were collected, ranging from Early Paleolithic hand axes to Middle Paleolithic Levallois flakes. “The other sites also deserve thorough investigation, and I am confident they will yield similar quantities of artifacts,” Egberts adds.
Beyond archaeological discoveries, the project contributed to education and knowledge-sharing. Egberts trained Iraqi archaeology students in geoarchaeology and Paleolithic archaeology, with three students participating in fieldwork. A post-fieldwork workshop at Al-Qadisiyah University introduced many more students and academics to Iraq’s Paleolithic history. The team also presented findings at a conference in Karbala, engaged with the Writers' Union in Najaf, and even introduced local elementary school children to prehistoric flint tools.
Despite common perceptions of Iraq as a challenging research environment, Egberts reports a smooth field experience. “Apart from numerous checkpoints, we faced no major issues. The people are welcoming, and it’s a great place to work.” However, security concerns did lead to an initial postponement of the expedition earlier in the year.
The research was made possible by funding from the British Institute for the Study of Iraq, leveraging Egberts’ honorary fellowship at the University of Leicester. Looking ahead, she plans to expand her research area, systematically analyze all discovered sites, and integrate findings into broader studies on human evolution and behavior in the Arabian Peninsula.
Egberts’ work has been met with enthusiasm from the Iraqi State Board of Antiquities and Heritage, which encourages further research in the region. As she continues her research at VUB, her findings promise to enhance our understanding of early human landscape use in Iraq and beyond.
Read the full VUB Press release