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Neolithic agricultural revolution linked to climate-driven wildfires and soil erosion
A study led by Prof. Amos Frumkin from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem sheds new light on one of humanity's most significant turning points: the Neolithic Revolution. Published in the Journal of Soils and Sediments, presents compelling evidence that catastrophic wildfires and soil erosion—driven by natural climate shifts—may have sparked the first widespread transition from hunting and gathering to farming in the southern Levant over 8,000 years ago.
The research challenges long-standing debates over whether the Neolithic Revolution was triggered by human action or climate. Using a multidisciplinary approach, Frumkin analyzed a range of environmental records, including micro-charcoal from lake sediments, carbon and strontium isotopes from cave speleothems, Dead Sea water levels, and soil deposits across the region.
"Our findings point to an intense period of natural wildfires and vegetation collapse caused by increased lightning during the early Holocene," said Prof. Frumkin. "These fires likely removed vast tracts of vegetation, leading to severe soil degradation on hillslopes and the accumulation of fertile soil in valley basins—ideal locations for early farming communities."
The study identifies this environmental tipping point around 8.2 thousand years ago, a time that coincides with a major climatic event in the Northern Hemisphere. Dry thunderstorms—caused by orbital shifts in solar radiation—appear to have played a central role in igniting the widespread fires. The result: a transformed landscape where former foragers had to adapt to new conditions by domesticating plants and settling in fertile, water-rich valleys.
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A) Entrance to Har Nof Cave, where a stalagmite was studied for insights into environmental change" (Photo: Amos Frumkin) B) Scanning the Stalactite Cave in Har Nof, Jerusalem(Photo: Amos Frumkin) C) Mapping the Stalactite Cave at Har Nof: Cross-Section and Plan View"(Map: Boaz Langford). Credit: Amos Frumkin and Boaz Langford -
Rock terrain in the Ofra area, within which material eroded from the surface became trapped. Credit: Amos Frumkin -
Soil that was eroded from the slopes into the Jordan Valley accumulated above the sediments of the ancience Lake Lisan. Credit: Amos Frumkin -
Soil that was eroded from the slopes into the valleys. Credit: Eastern Samaria, Google Earth
"This wasn't a gradual cultural shift—it was a response to environmental collapse," added Frumkin. "Agriculture and settlement patterns were likely shaped by necessity, not just innovation."
The paper also highlights how Neolithic settlements in the southern Levant clustered over thick reworked soil deposits, particularly along the Jordan Valley and surrounding basins. These soils, derived from eroded hillsides, offered both fertility and access to water—key ingredients for early agriculture.
More information: Amos Frumkin, Catastrophic fires and soil degradation: possible association with the Neolithic revolution in the southern Levant, Journal of Soils and Sediments (2025).
Provided by Hebrew University of Jerusalem
