Ancient Humans Crafted Tools from Animal Bones 1.5 Million Years Ago

A remarkable discovery in Tanzania’s Olduvai Gorge has unveiled a collection of 27 carved and sharpened bones from elephants and hippos, pushing back the timeline for ancient bone tool use by approximately 1 million years. This finding, published in the prestigious journal Nature, indicates that early humans had more sophisticated tool kits than previously believed, incorporating a diverse range of materials.

Significance of the Discovery

William Harcourt-Smith, a paleoanthropologist at the American Museum of Natural History, who was not involved in the research, emphasized the importance of this discovery. He stated that the well-preserved bone tools, some measuring up to 16 inches (40 centimeters), were likely crafted by breaking off the thick ends of leg bones and using stones to knock off flakes from the remaining bone shaft. This technique allowed for the creation of one sharpened edge and one pointed tip, which would have been useful for removing meat from elephant and hippo carcasses.

Scavenging, Not Hunting

Interestingly, the study co-author Ignacio de la Torre, a researcher at the Spanish National Research Council, noted that these tools were not used as spears or projectile points. “We don’t believe they were hunting these animals. They were probably scavenging,” he explained. This insight provides a new perspective on the dietary habits of early humans and their interactions with large mammals.

Deliberate Selection and Craftsmanship

The uniform selection of large and heavy leg bones from specific animals, along with the consistent pattern of alteration, suggests that early humans deliberately chose and carved these bones. Mírian Pacheco, a paleobiologist at the Federal University of Sao Carlos in Brazil, who was not involved in the study, pointed out that the bones show minimal signs of erosion, trampling, or gnawing by other animals. This evidence rules out the possibility that natural causes resulted in the tool shapes.

Coexistence of Early Human Ancestors

At the time these tools were made, three different species of human ancestors inhabited the same region of East Africa. Briana Pobiner, a paleoanthropologist at the Smithsonian’s Human Origins Program, who was not involved in the study, noted that the tools may have been crafted and utilized by Homo erectus, Homo habilis, or Paranthropus boisei. “It could have been any of these three, but it’s almost impossible to know which one,” Pobiner remarked.

Implications for Understanding Early Human Technology

This groundbreaking discovery not only sheds light on the technological capabilities of ancient humans but also challenges previous assumptions about their lifestyle and survival strategies. The ability to create tools from animal bones indicates a level of cognitive and manual dexterity that was previously underestimated.

As researchers continue to explore the implications of this finding, it becomes increasingly clear that our understanding of early human technology is evolving. The tools discovered at Olduvai Gorge serve as a testament to the ingenuity and adaptability of our ancient ancestors.

For more details on this fascinating discovery, you can read the original article here.