A recent discovery in Tanzania’s Olduvai Gorge has revealed that early humans were crafting bone tools 1.5 million years ago, pushing back previous estimates by a million years. Researchers found 27 well-preserved bone tools, likely made from elephant and hippo leg bones, which seemed to have been shaped into hand axes for butchering scavenged carcasses. The study, published in Nature, suggests that early hominins had more complex toolkits than previously believed, incorporating both stone and bone. While it’s unclear which human ancestor species made these tools, possible candidates include Homo erectus, Homo habilis, and Paranthropus boisei. The findings challenge previous notions about early tool-making and highlight the evolving ingenuity of ancient humans.
Source: AP News