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News Release 16-076
Researchers discover oldest evidence of 'farming' -- by insects
Oldest fossil evidence of agriculture, but not by humans
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![A 25 million-year-old termite nest with the remains of a](/news/mmg/media/images/fossil termite nest_f_2a1e671f-1eac-4df3-be25-ff4ac5d6a227.jpg)
A 25 million-year-old termite nest with the remains of a "fungus garden" preserved inside.
Credit: H. Hilbert-Worf, James Cook University
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![A termite](/news/mmg/media/images/korb_fungus garden_f_e3341614-edbb-4a87-b763-1fc31c016d80.jpg)
A termite "fungus garden"; the darker layer was freshly added.
Credit: Judith Korb
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![Map of the Great Rift Valley in East Africa with the Rukwa Rift study area highlighted.](/news/mmg/media/images/map_eastern africa_f_c8349522-cc9e-4312-b3f2-222b3955d543.jpg)
Map of the Great Rift Valley in East Africa with the Rukwa Rift study area highlighted.
Credit: Eric Roberts, James Cook University
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![A view of the Great Rift Valley, Rukwa Rift, in southwestern Tanzania.](/news/mmg/media/images/termites_landscape 1_f_002f7258-1501-411f-8db6-9f44ac657d92.jpg)
A view of the Great Rift Valley, Rukwa Rift, in southwestern Tanzania.
Credit: Eric Roberts, James Cook University
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![The researchers' field camp in the Rukwa Rift Basin in southwestern Tanzania.](/news/mmg/media/images/fieldcamp_sw tanzania_f_11b48e36-b20b-443f-a1c8-db9f0bc50c7b.jpg)
The researchers' field camp in the Rukwa Rift Basin in southwestern Tanzania.
Credit: Patrick O'Connor, Ohio University
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![The transition to fungiculture helped termites set up housekeeping in dry savannas.](/news/mmg/media/images/termites_landscape 2_f_cf818283-8440-4393-a549-c31c52e53af0.jpg)
The transition to fungiculture helped termites set up housekeeping in dry savannas.
Credit: Eric Roberts, James Cook University
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