Based on new data extracted from DNA samples of ancient rodents, a team of Israeli and international researchers led by Dr. Ignacio A. Lazagabaster (Department of Maritime Civilizations and Natural History Museum, Berlin) suggest that an ancient climatic corridor between Africa and the Levant was once used to travel between the two continents. Because this species of rodents were able to migrate through what is now the Judean Desert “it is likely that also humans, who migrated from Africa to the Levant at the same time were aided by the same ecological corridor,” noted the researchers. The multidisciplinary scientific team, from UofH, Tel Aviv University, Montpellier University, France, Hebrew University, the Geological Survey of Israel and the Israel Antiquities Authority, published their findings in PNAS. <<MORE ON THIS STORY IN TIMES OF ISRAEL AND THE JERUSALEM POST>>

*(Left) Excavated cave in the Judean Desert where the remains of ancient maned rat were found (dating back 42,000-120,000 years ago). | Credit: Yuli Schwartz ; (Right) Skull of an ancient manned rat. | Credit: Dr. Ignacio Lazagabaster