What evidence shows that the Sahara supported lakes and human communities during the early Holocene?

During the early Holocene, the Sahara experienced a period known as the African Humid Period, during which the region was transformed into a lush landscape of rivers, forests, and grasslands.1

Evidence for the existence of ancient lakes and human communities includes:

• Geological and Landscape Features: The presence of depressions and basins across the modern desert landscape serves as a strong indicator of former lake beds.12
• Archaeological Findings: Excavations have uncovered stone artifacts, rock art, and fossils of game animals—such as elephants, giraffes, and rhinoceroses—in regions that are now too arid for such life.34
• Prehistoric Settlements: Researchers have identified prehistoric settlements along the shores of ancient Saharan lakes. These sites contain physical remains such as bone harpoons, accumulations of shells, and the fossils of fish, crocodiles, and hippopotamuses, confirming that early human communities relied on these water sources for hunting and fishing.34
• Environmental Proxies: Scientists have also analyzed marine sedimentary rock and lake deposits, which contain varying levels of mineral dust and hydrogen isotopes from fossilized leaf wax, providing a record of the region's transition between wet and dry phases.12