Prehistoric humans invented stone tools multiple times, study finds
Prehistoric humans invented tools on multiple occasions, according to researchers who have found a collection of 327 stone weapons carved more than 2.58 million years ago.
This is the first evidence of ancient hominids sharpening stones to create specific tools, according to new research led by Arizona State University and George Washington University.
The collection of “Oldowan” tools – which are created by chipping off bits of stone – were found in the Afar region of north-eastern Ethiopia. They were probably made so our ancestors could carve up meat.
Before this discovery, the oldest example of an Oldowan tool was found in Gona in Ethiopia and was believed to be 2.56 million years old. It was widely believed this technology was invented once and then spread across the continent.
However, this latest study, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, proves that theory wrong. Oldowan tools are now believed to have been invented many times by several hominid groups before becoming an essential human survival tool. [Continue reading…]