Researchers have discovered the oldest known human-made bone tools, dating back 1.5 million years, at Olduvai Gorge in Tanzania. These tools, made from elephant and hippo bones, indicate advanced cognitive abilities in early humans as they adapted stone-working techniques to bone. This finding potentially changes our understanding of human evolution and tool-making skills.
Recent findings reveal the oldest known human-made bone tools, dating back approximately 1.5 million years, drastically altering perceptions of early human intelligence. Excavated from Olduvai Gorge in Tanzania, these bone tools, originating from elephant and hippopotamus leg bones, precede any previously discovered shaped bone tools by a million years. The research, spearheaded by Ignacio de la Torre of the Spanish National Research Council, illustrates that early hominins employed a technique known as ‘knapping,’ associated with stone tool crafting, to shape these bones.
The knapping method involves striking one stone against another to create sharp edges, indicating an advanced cognitive leap by early humans in adapting their skills from stone to bone. This development signifies a considerable advancement in mental capacity among early hominins. “The hominins who made these tools knew how to incorporate technical innovations by adapting their stone-working knowledge to bone,” noted de la Torre, emphasizing the implications of this finding for our understanding of cognitive abilities and mental development of early human ancestors.
The analysis of 27 bone fragments confirmed they were intentionally shaped by hominins rather than formed by natural occurrences or scavengers. These tools, derived from the bones of elephants, hippos, and a cow-like species, were selected for their appropriate size and durability. The length of the elephant bone tools ranged from 8.6 to 15 inches, while the hippo bones measured between 7 and 11.8 inches, suggesting their use for substantial tasks like processing animal carcasses.
The specific hominin species responsible for creating these tools remains uncertain, though both Homo erectus and Paranthropus boisei coexisted in the region around that time. This discovery enhances our comprehension of human evolution and highlights that early hominins were innovatively experimenting with bone tools well before the advent of larger stone implements like hand axes. “We were excited to find these bone tools from such an early timeframe,” shared study co-author Renata Peters of University College London, emphasizing the complex cognition required for transferring skills from stone to bone, which was not observed again for another million years.
The discovery of the oldest known human-made bone tools at Olduvai Gorge reshapes our understanding of early human cognitive abilities. The implementation of knapping techniques for bone tool production signifies a remarkable evolution in mental capacity among hominins. This finding not only highlights the innovative skills of early humans but also suggests that they were engaged in complex problem-solving activities much earlier than previously understood.
Original Source: caliber.az
