The oldest Homo erectus buried lithic horizon from the Eastern Saharan Africa. EDAR 7 - an Acheulean assemblage with Kombewa method from the Eastern Desert, Sudan

Although essential for reconstructing hominin behaviour during the Early Palaeolithic, only a handful of Acheulean sites have been dated in Eastern Sahara region. This is due to scarcity this time period and lack datable material. However, recent excavations Atbara region (Sudan) provided unique opportunities analyse date stone tools. We report here on EDAR 7, part cluster Middle Stone Age (MSA) that were recently discovered Desert River (EDAR) region, located far from Nile valley. At 3.5 metre sedimentary sequence was excavated, allowing an assemblage be investigated using combination sedimentology, tool studies optically stimulated luminescence dating (OSL). The site has delivered complete knapping chaine opératoire , providing new information about Saharan Acheulean. 7 interpreted as remnant campsite based co-occurrence two reduction modes: one geared towards production Large Cutting Tools (LCTs), other flaking small debitage flake Particularly notable abundance cleavers, most which display evidence production. Implementation giant Kombewa flakes also observed. A geometric morphometric analysis hand-axes conducted verify possible Late standardisation Nubian Sahara. In addition, micro-traces wear artefacts use history Sediment analyses OSL show contains oldest encampment remains Sahara, MIS 11 or earlier. confirms Homo erectus occupied Pleistocene humid periods, demonstrates habitable corridors existed between Ethiopian Highlands, Red Sea coast, population dispersals across continent out it.