Latest news with #WilliamHarcourt-Smith
Voice of America
13-03-2025
- Science
- Voice of America
Discovery Provides New Details on Early Use of Bone Tools
A recent discovery of bones in Tanzania suggests early humans commonly used animal bones to make cutting tools 1.5 million years ago. Past research has shown our early ancestors made simple tools from stones as early as 3.3 million years ago. But bone tools appear to have been developed much later. The discovery in Tanzania included a collection of 27 formed and sharpened bones. It pushes back the date for ancient bone tool use by around 1 million years. Researchers recently described their discovery in a study in the scientific publication Nature. William Harcourt-Smith is a scientist with the American Museum of Natural History. He did not take part in the latest research. Harcourt-Smith told The Associated Press the findings show that ancient humans used a number of materials and 'had rather more complex tool kits than previously we thought." The bone tools measured up to around 40 centimeters. Most of them came from the leg bones of large animals such as elephants and hippos. Early humans likely made the tools by breaking off the thick ends of leg bones and using a stone to remove smaller pieces. Ignacio de la Torre is with the Spanish National Research Council. He helped lead the research. De la Torre said this method was likely used to create one sharpened edge and one pointed tip. The bone tools were 'probably used as a hand axe,' he added. The 'hand axe' was likely used for cutting up dead animals, de la Torre said. This kind of blade would be helpful for removing meat from dead elephant and hippo bodies. He explained, 'We don't believe they were hunting these animals. They were probably scavenging.' Scavenging means to search for food from waste or dead animals. Some of the bone tools showed signs of having been hit more than ten times, suggesting careful work. Mírian Pacheco is a researcher with the Federal University of Sao Carlos in Brazil. She was not involved in the study. Pacheco said the newly uncovered evidence suggests early humans were thoughtful when choosing and making the bone tools. Researchers believe this because certain kinds of large and heavy leg bones were taken from specific animals. Also, the methods used to make the tools appeared to be regular, or consistent. The researchers noted the bones showed only small signs of damage. Pacheco said she thinks this rules out the possibility that natural causes shaped the tools. 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 area of East Africa. That information comes from Briana Pobiner of the Smithsonian's Human Origins Program. Pobiner was not involved in the study. The tools may have been made and used by Homo erectus, Homo habilis or Paranthropus boisei, she said. 'It could have been any of these three, but it's almost impossible to know which one.' I'm John Russell. Christina Larson reported on this story for the Associated Press. John Russell adapted it for VOA Learning English. ______________________________________________________ Words in This Story kit – n. a set of tools axe – n. a tool that usually has a wooden handle with a sharp piece of metal at one end, used mostly for cutting trees or wood species – n. a class of individuals having common attributes and designated by a common name
NBC News
05-03-2025
- Science
- NBC News
Ancient humans made tools from animal bones 1.5 million years ago
WASHINGTON — 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.
Washington Post
05-03-2025
- Science
- Washington Post
Ancient humans made tools from animal bones 1.5 million years ago
WASHINGTON — 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.
The Independent
05-03-2025
- Science
- The Independent
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.
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Ancient humans made tools from animal bones 1.5 million years ago
WASHINGTON (AP) — 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. See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. 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.
