Archaeologists have uncovered evidence of a Neolithic maritime trade network dating back 9,000 years, connecting the coastal regions of the Red Sea to the Horn of Africa. By analyzing the chemical signatures of obsidian blades and volcanic ochre found in submerged cave sites, the team has mapped the earliest known long-distance sea route in the region.
The discovery suggests that early maritime technology was far more advanced than previously believed, enabling stable exchange of luxury minerals across the Bab-el-Mandeb strait. This 'Ochre and Obsidian' seaway provided the economic foundation for the rise of complex coastal societies that would later dominate Indian Ocean trade.