Findings unearthed near Tel Aviv indicate fossilized teeth and tools may be from the evolutionary period when Homo Erectus evolved into Homo Sapiens.

Ongoing work at Qesem cave

Archeological work in the Qesem cave near the Tel Aviv has revealed artefacts from between 200,000-400,000 years ago, including flint stone tools, animal bones and hominid teeth.

Archaeologists believe the teeth belong to an identified species of Homo, far more evolved than Homo Erectus, but not as evolved as Homo Sapiens or Homo Neanderthalensis, both of whom occupied this area. The technology of the tools support this.

The putative time for Homo Sapiens is approximately 200,000 years ago, but the Qesem artefacts appear to show capabilities comparable with those from such a date. The teeth and the tools are pointing to a 'proto' Homo Sapiens and Homo Neanderthalensis, from whom both derived. 

The archaeologists believe that if this is the case, climatic changes would have triggered the hominid development - from Homo Erectus into a something, someone, more advanced. As climate changed, so did food sources, necessitating a change in hunting techniques, tools and possibly a greater control of fire. This cultural development can even be seen at Qesem cave, where different areas were used for specific functions. How far this cultural development spread is still too early to say, but researchers believe it may have stretched across the geographical region that now includes Israel, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria.

Read more in the ORIGINS section:

http://www.bradshawfoundation.com/origins/index.php