İnkaya Cave researchers to use DNA analysis to solve organic mystery

Archaeologists investigating the 86,000-year-old İnkaya Cave in Çanakkale, Turkey, are launching a new scientific approach to solve a biological mystery. Despite the discovery of approximately 40,000 flint tools, researchers have found zero organic remains, such as bone or plant matter, which Professor İsmail Özer describes as an “unusual” situation.

To investigate why organic material is missing, an Ankara University team will conduct environmental DNA (e-DNA) analysis starting in September. The study aims to identify specific bacteria that may be consuming or decomposing organic matter. This analysis is expected to provide insights into the paleoecological structure of the region, including ancient vegetation, animal life, and the specific human species that inhabited the cave during the Paleolithic period.

The excavation, which has been a Presidential Determined Excavation since 2021, is supported by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Ankara University, and several private entities. The findings could shed light on migration routes between Anatolia and the Balkans.