Ancient humans made tools from animal bones 1.5 million years ago
Early humans were regularly using animal bones to make cutting tools 1.5 million years ago.
A newly discovered cache of 27 carved and sharpened bones from elephants and hippos found in Tanzania 's Olduvai Gorge site pushes back the date for ancient bone tool use by around 1 million years. Researchers know that early people made simple tools from stones as early as 3.3 million years ago.
The new discovery, published Wednesday in Nature, reveals that ancient humans 'had rather more complex tool kits than previously we thought,' incorporating a variety of materials, said William Harcourt-Smith, a paleoanthropologist at the American Museum of Natural History, who was not involved in the research.
The well-preserved bone tools, measuring up to around 16 inches (40 centimeters), were likely made by breaking off the thick ends of leg bones and using a stone to knock off flakes from the remaining bone shaft. This technique was used to create one sharpened edge and one pointed tip, said study co-author Ignacio de la Torre, a researcher at the Spanish National Research Council.
The bone tools were 'probably used as a hand axe' – a handheld blade that's not mounted on a stick – for butchering dead animals, he said.
Such a blade would be handy for removing meat from elephant and hippo carcasses, but not used as a spear or projectile point. 'We don't believe they were hunting these animals. They were probably scavenging,' he said.
Some of the artifacts show signs of having been struck to remove flakes more than a dozen times, revealing persistent craftsmanship.
The uniform selection of the bones – large and heavy leg bones from specific animals – and the consistent pattern of alteration makes it clear that early humans deliberately chose and carved these bones, said Mírian Pacheco, a paleobiologist at the Federal University of Sao Carlos in Brazil, who was not involved in the study.
The bone show minimal signs of erosion, trampling or gnawing by other animals — ruling out the possibility that natural causes resulted in the tool shapes, she added.
The bone tools date from more than a million years before our species, Homo sapiens, arose around 300,000 years ago.
At the time the tools were made, three different species of human ancestors lived in the same region of East Africa, said Briana Pobiner, a paleoanthropologist at the Smithsonian's Human Origins Program, who was not involved in the study.
The tools may have been made and used by Homo erectus, Homo habilis or Paranthropus boisei. 'It could have been any of these three, but it's almost impossible to know which one,' said Pobiner.
___
The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Wales Online
21 hours ago
- Wales Online
8ft ambush shark 'more common' than thought on Welsh coast
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info An enigmatic species of shark known to be favour Welsh waters could be more abundant than previous suspected, scientists believe. The Angel shark, a large flat species resembling a stingray, is unique because it has evolved very differently to other types of shark. Previously only reliably spotted around the Canary Islands, catch evidence from Welsh fishermen has shown that Cardigan Bay is also a stronghold for this elusive and vulnerable species. The Welsh population had thought to be shrinking dramatically as a result of habitat damage and bycatch fishing, with one study indicating a 70% decline since 1970. A major conservation project was launched in the hope of saving a species that lingers on the sea floor, half-buried in sand and mud, waiting for prey to swim near them. They can grow up to 2.4m (8ft) long. However a new study, 'People & Nature', from the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) and Natural Resources Wales (NRW) suggests previous Angel shark counts were wide of the mark. Its authors believes changes to commercial fishing practices have seen fewer angel sharks caught. As the speckled, caramel-coloured sharks are masters of camouflage, finding them on the sea floor is virtually impossible. Instead, evidence from boat captains is the only reliable way the population can be assessed. It's now thought fishermen are catching fewer not because numbers are dwindling but because they are targeting different waters and using species-specific nets. To reach its conclusions, the ZSL-led study harnessed the expertise of Welsh fishing organisations. Co-author was Charlie Bartlett, a charter fisherman from Gwynedd, who said: 'I've spent over 50 years working along the Welsh coast, and over the years I've come to know these waters inside out. 'With their large, flat fins, Angel sharks are unlike any other shark we see here - and over the years I've been fortunate to encounter the species a number of times.' Join the North Wales Live Whatsapp community now (Image: Charlie Barlett) In the 40 years to 2020, some 1,642 Angel sharks were reported in Welsh coastal waters. A particular safe haven is in an area south of the Llŷn Peninsula. While they pose very little risk to humans, they have been known to bite when provoked. Literature analysis going back two centuries revealed they have a long maritime heritage in Wales. No fewer than 16 different names were uncovered, including Monkfish, Banjofish, Bafoon, Shovelnose and Devilfish. Its traditional Welsh name is Maelgi (Monkfish). The species has been adopted as the flagship species for marine conservation in Wales. Working with the Welsh Fishermen's Association (Cymdeithas Pysgotwyr) and Angling Cymru Sea Anglers, scientists interviewed 27 fishers about their operations between 1968 and 2019. It became clear modern practices involve fewer interactions with Angel sharks, leading to fewer sightings. (Image: Jake Davies/JD Scuba/Project SIARC) Lead author Francesca Mason, a ZSL researcher at the Institute of Zoology's Ocean Predator Lab, said: 'There may be more Angel sharks swimming off the Welsh coast than we previously thought – we're just having a harder time spotting them. 'While this is a good sign if less Angel sharks are being caught accidentally, it also means we now need new ways to monitor them to build a more accurate picture of how these sharks are doing.' Instead of relying on chance sightings, scientists are now pinning their hopes on a novel technique involving environmental DNA (eDNA). This can build up in the shark's surroundings through the shedding of dead skin cells or blood loss from a wound. Already eDNA is being measured for Angel Shark Project: Wales, part of the wider work of Project SIARC (Sharks Inspiring Action and Research with Communities). (Image: Jake Davies/JD Scuba/Project SIARC) Jake Davies, technical specialist for Project SIARC, said: 'With their excellent camouflage, one of the hardest challenges we face studying Angel sharks is simply finding them. eDNA allows us to study species without having to spot them. 'By studying eDNA in Cardigan and Carmarthen Bays, we've confirmed the presence of a range of native sharks, skates and rays - including Angel sharks - in these more turbulent waters where other monitoring methods aren't as effective. 'Fishers today may be less likely to come across Angel sharks than they were 50 years ago, but through combining this technique with local knowledge, we can continue building a stronger picture of their status and distribution along the Welsh coast.' The Angel shark work was supported by the On the Edge conservation charity, the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Welsh Government and the Welsh Government's Nature Networks Fund. Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox See what's on in your area
North Wales Live
a day ago
- North Wales Live
8ft ambush shark 'more common' than thought on Welsh coast
An enigmatic species of shark known to be favour Welsh waters could be more abundant than previous suspected, scientists believe. The Angel shark, a large flat species resembling a stingray, is unique because it has evolved very differently to other types of shark. Previously only reliably spotted around the Canary Islands, catch evidence from Welsh fishermen has shown that Cardigan Bay is also a stronghold for this elusive and vulnerable species. The Welsh population had thought to be shrinking dramatically as a result of habitat damage and bycatch fishing, with one study indicating a 70% decline since 1970. A major conservation project was launched in the hope of saving a species that lingers on the sea floor, half-buried in sand and mud, waiting for prey to swim near them. They can grow up to 2.4m (8ft) long. However a new study, 'People & Nature', from the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) and Natural Resources Wales (NRW) suggests previous Angel shark counts were wide of the mark. Its authors believes changes to commercial fishing practices have seen fewer angel sharks caught. As the speckled, caramel-coloured sharks are masters of camouflage, finding them on the sea floor is virtually impossible. Instead, evidence from boat captains is the only reliable way the population can be assessed. It's now thought fishermen are catching fewer not because numbers are dwindling but because they are targeting different waters and using species-specific nets. To reach its conclusions, the ZSL-led study harnessed the expertise of Welsh fishing organisations. Co-author was Charlie Bartlett, a charter fisherman from Gwynedd, who said: 'I've spent over 50 years working along the Welsh coast, and over the years I've come to know these waters inside out. 'With their large, flat fins, Angel sharks are unlike any other shark we see here - and over the years I've been fortunate to encounter the species a number of times.' In the 40 years to 2020, some 1,642 Angel sharks were reported in Welsh coastal waters. A particular safe haven is in an area south of the Llŷn Peninsula. While they pose very little risk to humans, they have been known to bite when provoked. Literature analysis going back two centuries revealed they have a long maritime heritage in Wales. No fewer than 16 different names were uncovered, including Monkfish, Banjofish, Bafoon, Shovelnose and Devilfish. Its traditional Welsh name is Maelgi (Monkfish). The species has been adopted as the flagship species for marine conservation in Wales. Working with the Welsh Fishermen's Association (Cymdeithas Pysgotwyr) and Angling Cymru Sea Anglers, scientists interviewed 27 fishers about their operations between 1968 and 2019. It became clear modern practices involve fewer interactions with Angel sharks, leading to fewer sightings. Lead author Francesca Mason, a ZSL researcher at the Institute of Zoology's Ocean Predator Lab, said: 'There may be more Angel sharks swimming off the Welsh coast than we previously thought – we're just having a harder time spotting them. 'While this is a good sign if less Angel sharks are being caught accidentally, it also means we now need new ways to monitor them to build a more accurate picture of how these sharks are doing.' Instead of relying on chance sightings, scientists are now pinning their hopes on a novel technique involving environmental DNA (eDNA). This can build up in the shark's surroundings through the shedding of dead skin cells or blood loss from a wound. Already eDNA is being measured for Angel Shark Project: Wales, part of the wider work of Project SIARC (Sharks Inspiring Action and Research with Communities). Jake Davies, technical specialist for Project SIARC, said: 'With their excellent camouflage, one of the hardest challenges we face studying Angel sharks is simply finding them. eDNA allows us to study species without having to spot them. 'By studying eDNA in Cardigan and Carmarthen Bays, we've confirmed the presence of a range of native sharks, skates and rays - including Angel sharks - in these more turbulent waters where other monitoring methods aren't as effective. 'Fishers today may be less likely to come across Angel sharks than they were 50 years ago, but through combining this technique with local knowledge, we can continue building a stronger picture of their status and distribution along the Welsh coast.' The Angel shark work was supported by the On the Edge conservation charity, the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Welsh Government and the Welsh Government's Nature Networks Fund.
The Independent
4 days ago
- The Independent
Chimpanzees can ‘catch' yawns even from robots
Chimpanzees can 'catch' yawns from an android robot imitating human facial expressions, according to a new study that raises more questions about the evolutionary origins of the behaviour. Yawning is known to be associated with attention changes, regulating body temperature, and as a transition between rest and arousal. Contagious yawning is a strange behaviour in which an animal yawns after seeing another individual exhibit the same behaviour. This contagious aspect of the behaviour has been linked to some elements of social interaction, like empathy and imitation. Until now, contagious yawning has been observed in mammals and some fish, but its evolutionary origins are still unknown. It emerges gradually in humans, chimpanzees, and dogs, becoming prominent at around four years in humans, five years in chimpanzees, and at about seven months in dogs, scientists say. The new study, published on Thursday in the journal Nature, found that chimpanzees will both yawn and lie down in response to yawns made by an android robot. The findings suggest that observing another individual yawn may act as a cue in chimps to rest rather than triggering an automatic response. In the study, scientists used an android head that could simulate facial expressions to test the responses of 14 adult chimps aged between 10 and 33 years. The android head contained 33 rotational motors which functioned as muscles to generate its facial expressions, including yawns, with each expression lasting 10 seconds. Chimps in the study were each exposed to four 15-minute sessions of the android demonstrating yawning, gaping, and neutral facial expressions. Scientists recorded these sessions on camera, and each chimpanzee was scored for their responsiveness, along with the amount of time they spent lying down. Eight of the 14 chimpanzees were found to yawn in response to the android's 'yawn' expression. 'The results showed that adult chimpanzees exhibited across-agent yawn contagion, with a graded response: the highest contagion occurred when the android displayed a fully wide-open mouth, a reduced response when the mouth was partially opened, and no contagion when the android's mouth was closed,' they wrote. Eight chimps also lay down in response, and some gathered bedding before lying down. 'Chimpanzees engaged in behaviours associated with drowsiness, such as gathering bedding materials, constructing nests, and lying down, while observing the android yawning,' scientists wrote. These findings seem to show contagious yawning due to an inanimate model for the first time, according to researchers. The results shed further light on primates' susceptibility to contagiously induced behaviours, scientists say, adding, however, that the exact biological mechanisms surrounding it remain unclear. They hope future research can reveal whether other actions performed by robots are contagious to animals.
