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The DSF is unique in the sense that it is a natural geodynamic laboratory in
which the tectonic processes that take place during Continental breakup can be stud-
ied in situ. Research in this area has shed light on processes through which large Fea-
tures on the earth’s crust, such as the Rinne Graben in Europe or the Baikal Rift in
Sibena have been created.This is because the structure of the DSF is relatively sim-
ple. On the other hand, research in this area helps in understanding the geological
evolution of the entire region.
The DSF is an important part of the corridor through which hominids set off
out of Africa. Remains of the earliest hominids are found in several sites along the
DSF. It is interesting to note that acceleration in the vertical motion along the DSF,
which produced its present physiography, began slightly before man had started his
way out of Africa northwards.
Human migration from Africa northwards, should be seen as part of a wider
phase of migration of animals and plants, which occurred along with the relief
accentuation of the DSF margins. This can be clearly seen in phyto and bio-geo-
graphical distribution maps.The timing of Sudanese flora Infiltration into the DSF is
still debated. However, one only has to look at the phyto-geographic distribution
map of these species to see the almost perfect correlation to the trend of the DSF.
The likely explanation for the relatively high number of tropical orgamsms, especially
Ethiopian, along the DSF is by migration, as today a vast desert separates them from
their relatives in Africa and Asia. Generally, there is a decay of tropical Fauna
(rhmoceros, giraffes and hippopotamus) from the Miocene until today, where there
are only sporadic remnants of large mammals along the DSF (i.e. leopards and
gazelles). At present, the DSF is a preferred route for active migration of billions of
birds between Africa and Europe.The Dead Sea transform is one of the three major
migration routes along with Gibraltar and Sicily, which are also known to be paths
of hominid migration.
The morphology of the DSF created conditions in which fresh water bodies
existed since the Pliocen (~2 million years ago). The lakes created friendly environ-
ments, richly vaned in Fauna and flora, for migrating hominids along the fault. The
unique geographic location of the Levantine Corridor channeled hominid, tech-
nologies and materials from Africa to Asia and visa versa. It should be noted that the
Levantine Corridor was a wide Zone extending from the Mediterranean coast on the
west to the Jordanian plateau on the east, with the DSF runmng through it.
Archeological evidence of hominid migration out of Africa between 2.0-0.7
million years ago show at least three pulses.The earliest site in which human related
Amt artifacts were found is Erk-el-Achmar. The site is located about 10 km south of
the Sea of Galilee, ~50 m above the Jordan River. Combined paleontologic and pale-
omagnetic dating of Erk-el Achmar yielded ages of 1.7—2.0 million years. The next
pulses are observed in Ubediya (~3 km Southwest of the Sea of Galilee and —255 m
below MSL), with 1.4 million years age and Gesher Benot-Ya’akov (~15 km north
of the Sea of Galilee, on the banks of the Jordan River), with 0.78 million years age.
The DSF is seismically active. Man and earthquakes have coexisted along the
DSF since early hominids migrated to this region some 2 million years ago. Strong