Bone Tools: Our Ancestors Mastered Them a Million Years Sooner Than Believed

Researchers have unearthed what appears to be the oldest known bone implements, shifting the timeline for their usage approximately one million years earlier than previously thought.

This discovery indicates that early humans possessed more sophisticated tool-making abilities than was earlier believed.

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 earliest proof of intentional creation of bone tools by early hominins.

Made from the robust femur bones of elephants and hippopotamuses, these tools indicate that our ancient ancestors employed more sophisticated tool sets than earlier believed.

Scientists have established that basic stone instruments date back 3.3 million years. However, bone tools were thought to be an invention of a more recent era until recently.

The artifacts, which remain in excellent condition with some pieces reaching up to 40 centimeters, exhibit evident indications of deliberate crafting.

When they came into being, our forebears led an uncertain life as hunter-gatherers in the Serengeti plains, a habitat brimming with animals.

They created them utilizing a method akin to the production of stone tools, where tiny flakes were detached to produce razor-sharp borders, showcasing advanced artisanal skills.

Dr. Christine Adhiambo Ogola is an archaeologist affiliated with the National Museum of Kenya. She did not participate in the research.

"Bone tools aren’t frequently found due to their tendency to decay. Therefore, it’s possible that numerous bone implements have existed but haven’t survived over time. Consequently, most of the preserved artifacts we find tend to be made of stone," 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 implements, these were not attached to handles or employed as spears.

Scientists claim that the consistent choice of 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 using bone tools since it’s possible that such tools were utilized even earlier. Given what we know about chimpanzees employing bone tools, it suggests that human beings at a similar stage of development might have also made use of these implements," 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 crafted these tools; however, experts indicate that the discoveries imply early humans weren’t merely responding passively to their surroundings. Instead, they appear to have been deliberately strategizing about how they created their tools and carefully choosing materials for specific objectives.

The finding, reported in the journal Nature, sheds light on the developing intellect and flexibility of our ancient forebears.