Archaeologists discover some of the oldest tools ever used by mankind

Mankind has been using tools since as early as the prehistoric Stone Age. Keeping that in mind, archaeologists have always looked for ancient tools around the world. Recently, they have unearthed some of the oldest stone tools in Nyayanga, part of western Kenya which can be traced back to 2.9 million years back. The findings were published in the journal Science. 

Initial findings suggest that the tools were used for butchery, pounding plant material and processing food. In fact, they were not just used by the ancestors of Homo Sapiens (modern humans) but also other kinds of early humans, such as the Neanderthals.  

Deemed as the Oldowan toolkit, this brand-new discovery is no less than a milestone in the field of human evolution. As many as 330 stone tools have been excavated so far alongside two large dental fossils (molars) of Paranthropus, a muscular-jawed hominin (prehistoric human). The latest findings prove that contrary to earlier beliefs, it wasn’t just the early Homo Sapiens who pioneered simple stone tools, other hominins may have been involved too, in what is now being regarded as Oldowan Technology, a prehistoric method of making tools using pebbles of various minerals. It also demonstrates how the tools were upgraded versions of previously uncarved crude stone tools.  

The study conducted by USA’s Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History also revealed evidence of other large-sized animals such as three individual ancient hippopotamuses. From their incomplete skeleton samples, sings of butchery is very clear. The same applies for antelope remains that have been found. They show signs of sliced away flesh, evident from exposed bone marrow. Experts however believe that the animals were not hunted, rather scavenged.  

What’s interesting is that the artefacts date millions of years before humans learnt to use fire. What does this imply? The toolmakers only used the tools to cut, scrape and pound the animals but eat their meat raw.  

For those wondering how the dates of the tools were determined, scientists used various radioisotope (carbon dating) techniques to do so. Some of the tools discovered resemble modern-day hammerstones (used for pounding) and flakes (used to cut and scrape off flesh).  

To put matters into perspective, researchers have said that these tools are so potent that they can crush better than an elephant’s molar and cut better than a lion’s canine. Amazing, isn’t it?