Ancient human ancestors crafted the oldest known bone tools 1.5 million years ago from hippo and elephant bones in Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania. These findings, published in *Nature*, suggest systematic production of bone tools, predating earlier beliefs about their timeline. The artifacts indicate a technological transition from stone to bone tool-making practices.
Researchers have discovered that ancient human relatives created the oldest known bone tools approximately 1.5 million years ago. These tools, made from the bones of hippos and elephants, were found at Tanzania’s Olduvai Gorge, a site renowned for significant fossil discoveries. The findings, reported on March 5 in the journal Nature, indicate systematic production of bone tools by hominids, as noted by archaeologist Ignacio de la Torre of CSIC-Spanish National Research Council.
Excavations conducted between 2015 and 2022 revealed 27 bone tools within dated sediment layers. Each of these tools may have originated from either Homo erectus, a potential human ancestor, or Paranthropus boisei, a side-branch species that existed in the same region. This discovery challenges earlier beliefs since bone tools were thought to date to around 500,000 years ago, with much older origins only recently suggested from a 1.4-million-year-old hippo leg bone previously found in Ethiopia.
The artifacts recovered from Olduvai Gorge represent even older examples of bone tool creation. The tools comprised various leg bones, primarily from elephants and hippos, exhibiting evidence of sharpening through pounding marks. The largest implements reached up to 38 centimeters in length, roughly equivalent to the distance from an adult’s elbow to fingertips. Notably, six of the tools displayed a carved notch for grip and a sharp point at the opposite end.
Archaeologists link these discoveries to the Acheulean industry, which saw the emergence of sophisticated stone toolmaking around 1.7 million years ago, positing that the bone tools indicate a technological transfer from stone to bone. De la Torre’s research team also found numerous hippo bones with butchery marks. This suggests that early hominids utilized hippo carcasses not only for nourishment but also for crafting tools, while the presence of elephant-bone tools may indicate they were transported from different locations.
The findings from Olduvai Gorge provide groundbreaking evidence of early hominid tool-making practices, demonstrating that bone tools date back to 1.5 million years ago. This predates previous assumptions about the timeline of such technological developments. The artifacts signify a shift in tool production methodology among early humans, showcasing adaptability in resource utilization during prehistoric times.
Original Source: www.sciencenews.org
