Paleolithic hominin occupations and Quaternary geomorphological evolution in the NE Ararat Depression (Armenia)

The Ararat Depression, at the crossroads of Africa and Eurasia, spans Armenia, Turkey and Iran, providing a unique natural laboratory for studying landscape evolution, hominin lifeways and migration. This research integrates geomorphological mapping and sedimentary analysis with dating techniques such as Terrestrial Cosmogenic Nuclides (¹⁰Be–²⁶Al) and Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) to reconstruct environmental history over the past 900,000 years. It investigates the formation and preservation of alluvial landforms in response to climatic fluctuations, Quaternary volcanism and tectonic activity, revealing discontinuities in the archaeological record. Late Pleistocene and Holocene alluvial deposits further illustrate the complex interplay between geomorphic processes and human settlement patterns. Findings indicate that the Middle and Upper Paleolithic occupations were shaped by shifting environmental conditions, with hominin presence fluctuating in response to glacial and interglacial cycles. This study enhances our understanding of how landscape evolution influenced hominin dispersal and adaptation in the Southern Caucasus.