An international research team led by Dr. Gabriele Russo from the University of Tübingen has re-examined old fossil collections from Lebanon using modern scientific techniques. Their findings, published in two studies in the journal Communications Earth & Environment, reveal that the Levant — a region covering parts of the Middle East — was an important migration route for both animals and early human groups during the Pleistocene era, which lasted from about 2.58 million years ago to 11,700 years ago. The research, based on fossils from sites in Ras el-Kelb, Naame, and Nahr Ibrahim, shows that the central Levant had significantly different environmental conditions compared to the southern part of the region. These fossils, some dating back up to 400,000 years, offer new insights into the lives of early humans and the dense forests that once covered the area. Research in the Levant has long been challenging due to political and social instability, especially in countries like Lebanon, where conflicts have limited access to key fossil sites for years. Despite this, historical collections — some of which were gathered over a century ago — remain valuable. Modern methods, such as analyzing tooth wear and stable isotopes, allow scientists to extract new information from these old collections, answering questions that were previously unanswerable. The Levant is known as a major corridor for the movement of animals and early human groups during the Pleistocene. While the southern part of the region has been extensively studied, the central and northern areas have received much less attention. Political instability in Lebanon since the 1970s has further limited research there. This has led to the assumption that the southern Levant could represent the entire region, but the new study challenges this view. By precisely dating fossils from Ras el-Kelb and Nahr Ibrahim, researchers have created one of the longest paleoecological records for the area, spanning from about 400,000 to 100,000 years ago. The team used a combination of archaeozoological methods, tooth wear analysis, and isotope studies to understand the behaviors of early humans. Evidence from cut marks and split bones suggests that early humans in the region hunted large animals like aurochs, deer, and wild goats, and processed their carcasses for meat and marrow. Rhinoceroses also appear to have been part of the local fauna, with their remains found in significant numbers at the Ras el-Kelb site. This indicates that rhinoceroses were a regular part of the landscape, not just a result of selective collection by early researchers. Pollen analysis from the area also reveals that the region was once covered with dense Mediterranean forests, including species like firs, birches, and oaks. Combined with new data on vegetation and habitat reconstruction, the research suggests that the coastal landscape of modern-day Lebanon was a mix of forested areas and open spaces that changed with the seasons. These conditions likely supported a variety of resources, allowing early humans to adapt their lifestyles to the environment. Isotope studies also suggest a relatively warm and stable climate over long periods, which may have made the area a refuge for both animals and people. The study highlights the ecological differences between the central and southern Levant. While the south was mostly arid and covered in steppe or desert-like landscapes, the central and northern parts had denser forests and more consistent resources. Researchers acknowledge that working with historical collections comes with challenges, such as unclear excavation records and potential biases from older methods. However, using multiple analytical techniques, they were still able to identify clear ecological patterns. These findings emphasize the importance of preserving and re-examining historical collections, as they can offer insights into past environments and human behaviors that are no longer accessible. Future research will focus on expanding isotope analyses, studying stone tools found alongside animal remains, and comparing these findings with newly discovered fossils from Lebanon and surrounding regions. The goal is to refine the understanding of the area's past environment and the ways early humans adapted to it, shedding more light on their interactions with the landscape and wildlife in the eastern Mediterranean.