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Tools made from elephant and hippo bones show ingenuity of human ancestors


Published on 2025-03-05 11:42:20 - Reuters
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  • An assemblage of tools found in Tanzania that was fashioned about 1.5 million years ago from the limb bones of elephants and hippos reveals what scientists are calling a technological breakthrough for the human evolutionary lineage - systematic production of implements made from a material other than stone.

The article from Reuters discusses a study published in the journal *Nature* revealing that early human ancestors in what is now modern-day Israel crafted tools from the bones of elephants and hippos around 1.4 million years ago. These findings indicate a level of ingenuity and adaptability among these early hominins, showcasing their ability to utilize large animal bones for creating tools, which likely played a role in their survival and evolution. The tools, discovered at the site of Revadim, included hammers, anvils, and cutting tools, suggesting that these ancestors had developed sophisticated methods for processing animal carcasses and possibly for other daily activities. This discovery pushes back the timeline for when such advanced tool-making techniques were thought to have emerged, highlighting the resourcefulness of human evolution.

Read the Full Reuters Article at:
[ https://www.reuters.com/science/tools-made-elephant-hippo-bones-show-ingenuity-human-ancestors-2025-03-05/ ]