Researchers have unearthed what are believed to be the oldest known bone implements, shifting the timeline for their usage by approximately one million years earlier than previously thought.
The find suggests early humans had more advanced tool-making skills than previously thought.
These 27 fossilized remains, crafted into tools approximately 1.5 million years ago, are reshaping our understanding of early human technological development.
The collection discovered in Tanzania's Olduvai Gorge offers the oldest proof of intentional creation of bone tools by early hominids.
Made from the robust femur bones of elephants and hippopotamuses, these tools indicate that ancient humans had more sophisticated tool kits than earlier believed.
Scientists have established that basic stone tools date back 3.3 million years. However, bone tools were thought to have been invented significantly later.
The artifacts, which remain remarkably intact with some pieces extending up to 40 centimeters, exhibit evident indications of deliberate crafting.
When they came into being, our forebears inhabited an uncertain life as hunter-gatherers on the plains of the Serengeti region, a terrain brimming with animal life.
They created them utilizing a method akin to the production of stone tools, where tiny flakes were detached to create razor-sharp borders, showcasing advanced expertise.
Dr. Christine Adhiambo Ogola serves as an archaeologist at the National Museum of Kenya and was not part of this particular research endeavor.
"They mentioned that bone tools aren't prevalent due to their decomposition. Thus, even though there might be numerous instances of these tools throughout history, only a few remain today. In contrast, we find more stone tools still extant," she explained.
These implements were probably utilized as hand-held axes primarily for processing animal carcases, notably scavenged remnants of elephants and hippopotamuses.
Unlike subsequent instruments, these were not attached to handles or employed as spears.
Scientists believe that the consistent choice of certain bones, mainly big limb bones from particular creatures, indicates that ancient humans intentionally looked for high-quality raw materials to craft their tools.
"We can’t precisely determine when they began utilizing bone tools since it’s possible that these implements were used even before the recorded period. Given what we know about chimpanzees employing such tools, it suggests that human beings at an equivalent stage of evolution might have utilized similar instruments as well," explained Ogola.
Consider this from a temporal perspective. When did humans reach that stage? It might have been as far back as 4-5 million years ago.
This finding predates the emergence of Homo sapiens by over a million years. During this period, at least three distinct hominin species inhabited the area, namely Homo erectus, Homo habilis, and Paranthropus boisei.
It remains uncertain which species created these tools; however, experts believe the discoveries indicate that ancient humans weren’t merely responding to their surroundings. Instead, they seem to have been deliberately strategizing about how they crafted their tools and carefully choosing materials for specific intended uses.
The finding, reported in the journal Nature, offers fresh understanding of the developing intellect and flexibility of our ancient forebears.