Archaeologists recently made an amazing discovery at Olduvai Gorge in Tanzania. They found ancient bone tools that are about 1.5 million years old. This revelation is significant because it changes what we thought we knew about early human technology. The tools were made using the bones of elephants and hippopotamuses, which shows that our ancestors had impressive skills and understanding much earlier than we believed.
Dr. Ignacio de la Torre, the study’s lead author from the Spanish National Research Council, pointed out that these findings highlight how early humans were able to create tools from different materials. They examined 27 bone fragments that showed clear signs of careful shaping, a process called knapping, more commonly associated with stone tools.
The tools were discovered in an area known as the T69 Complex in Olduvai Gorge, together with the remains of large mammals. They used limb bones, which are denser and better for making strong tools. The elephant bone tools ranged from about 22 to 38 cm (8.6 to 15 inches) in length, while the hippo tools measured around 18 to 30 cm (7 to 11.8 inches).
Before this find, the oldest known bone tools dated back only about 250,000 to 500,000 years. Although stone tool-making has been traced back 3.3 million years, evidence for bone tool-making was previously limited.
Dr. Renata Peters from University College London, a co-author of the study, emphasized the importance of this discovery. She noted that it shows early humans could transfer their skills from making stone tools to crafting tools from bone. This level of cognitive thinking indicates advanced problem-solving abilities that we hadn’t recognized in early humans for another million years.
This new evidence also sparks discussions about the transition from Oldowan to Acheulean technology, which began around 1.7 million years ago. The Acheulean period is known for its refined hand axes, and the recent find suggests that early humans also applied similar techniques to bone, demonstrating a sophisticated understanding of different materials.
It is still unclear which specific human ancestors made these tools. During this time, both Homo erectus and Paranthropus boisei were present in the area. While the exact purpose of the tools is not known, their sharp edges suggest a use in processing animal carcasses.
Jackson Njau, another co-author of the study, expressed his fascination with the discoveries in Olduvai Gorge, often referred to as the “Cradle of Humankind.” This site is crucial for understanding the evolution of tool-making and cultural advancements in early humans.
The bone tools were initially identified in 2018, following extensive excavations from 2015 to 2022. Researchers first noticed the site after finding hominin teeth during surveys in 2010 and 2011, led by Njau and Robert Blumenschine from Rutgers University.
This discovery opens up new avenues for research in archaeology and human evolution. Scholars now aim to re-examine bone artifacts from other archaeological sites to uncover more evidence of ancient bone tool-making that may have been overlooked.
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Source linkAcheulean,Homo erectus
