Scientists discover 3.2 million year old tools

Posted on Wednesday, August 11 2010 @ 21:20 CEST by Thomas De Maesschalck

Archaeologists have discovered evidence that early human ancestors were using stone tools to cleave meat from animal bones more than 3.2 million years ago. The discovery pushes back the first known tool use by nearly a million years:

Bones found in Ethiopia show cuts from stone and indications that the bones were forcibly broken to remove marrow.

The research, in the journal Nature, challenges several notions about our ancestors' behaviour.

Previously the oldest-known use of stone tools came from the nearby Gona region of Ethiopia, dating back to about 2.5 million years ago. That suggests that it was our more direct ancestors, members of our own genus Homo, that were the first to use tools.

But the marked bones were found in the Dikika region, with their age determined by dating the nearby volcanic rock - to between 3.2 million and 3.4 million years ago.

Sources: Guardian and BBC

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Thomas De Maesschalck

Thomas has been messing with computer since early childhood and firmly believes the Internet is the best thing since sliced bread. Enjoys playing with new tech, is fascinated by science, and passionate about financial markets. When not behind a computer, he can be found with running shoes on or lifting heavy weights in the weight room.

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