doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2424093122
Credibility: 989
#AgricultureÂ
A discovery in Uzbekistan reveals that agriculture began in regions far beyond the Fertile Crescent
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Agriculture, which emerged in the Stone Age (Neolithic), changed human history.
Experts believe it emerged independently in various parts of the world, including Africa, the Americas, and East Asia.
Until now, however, it was believed that important crops such as wheat, barley, and legumes began to be cultivated in the Fertile Crescent, a region in the Middle East.
There, a group called the Natufians began harvesting wild grains about 10,000 years ago.
A new study by an international team shows that at least 9,200 years ago, communities in southern Uzbekistan, far to the north and east, also harvested wild barley using cutting tools.
This discovery suggests that customs that led to agriculture were more widespread than previously thought, demonstrating that agriculture did not emerge solely due to climate change or population growth.
Excavations at Toda Cave
The discovery took place in Toda Cave, in the Surkandarya Valley in southern Uzbekistan.
The work was led by Xinying Zhou of the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology in Beijing, under the supervision of Farhad Maksudov, director of the Institute of Archaeology in Samarkand.
In the cave’s oldest layers, researchers found stone tools, charcoal, and preserved plant remains.
Analysis by Robert Spengler of the Max Planck Institute for Geoanthropology confirmed that the inhabitants gathered wild barley from the nearby valleys.
Remains of pistachio shells and apple seeds were also found.
The tools, primarily blades and limestone flakes, bore signs of wear that indicate they were used to cut grasses and other plants, similar to what is seen in archaeological sites linked to the beginning of agriculture.
Rethinking the Beginnings of Agriculture
“This discovery changes the way scientists think about the transition from gathering to agriculture, showing that these behaviors were much more common,” says Xinying.
“These ancient hunter-gatherers already practiced customs that would lead to agriculture,” explains Spengler.
“Recent research suggests that plant domestication occurred without clear human intention, and this discovery reinforces that idea.”
The research team will continue to investigate how common these customs were in Central Asia at that time.
They are also exploring the possibility that these grains are an early example of wild barley cultivation.
If true, this could indicate that agriculture arose independently in the region or that Fertile Crescent practices spread eastward much earlier than previously thought.
In any case, new research should help to better understand the history of humanity.
Published in 09/08/2025 03h29
Text adapted by AI (Grok) and translated via Google API in the English version. Images from public image libraries or credits in the caption. Information about DOI, author and institution can be found in the body of the article.
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