Scientists reveal the origin of the Euphrates — a river that fed the 'cradle of civilization'

Reconstruction of paleo-rivers flowing into the eastern Mediterranean Sea around 5.4 million years ago. We see that the eastern Mediterranean Sea was mostly desiccated.

Around 5.4 million years ago, two rivers flowed across present-day Turkey and Syria and into the Mediterranean Sea — and eventually, they would merge to form the Euphrates River, new research suggests. The merged river would play a pivotal role in the development of early human civilizations in the Fertile Crescent.

Scientists revealed that the Paleo-Karasu and Paleo-Murat rivers discharged into the Mediterranean Sea until 5.33 million years ago, and tectonic shifts altered their paths around 3.6 million years ago, after a period when both rivers emptied onshore. The Paleo-Murat River changed course first, and the Paleo-Karasu River was rerouted 800,000 years later. Both waterways combined to flow southeast into the Persian Gulf by roughly 1.6 million years ago, according to the new study.