Archaeologists have identified a 500,000-year-old elephant bone tool discovered in southern England, revealing a surprising level of advanced planning and craftsmanship in early human ancestors. The tool, a hammer or "retoucher" made from dense elephant bone, is the oldest of its kind found in Europe. This discovery suggests early hominins, potentially Homo heidelbergensis or early Neanderthals, possessed sophisticated cognitive abilities to select, shape, and repeatedly use rare materials to maintain their stone tools.[thebrighterside+3]
A Glimpse into Ancient Ingenuity
The remarkable artifact was unearthed in the early 1990s at the Boxgrove archaeological site, near Chichester in West Sussex, England. However, its true significance as a deliberately crafted tool only became clear recently through detailed analysis by researchers from University College London (UCL) and the Natural History Museum, London.Scientists used advanced techniques like 3D scanning and electron microscopes to study the bone fragment.These analyses revealed clear notches and impact marks on its surface, along with tiny fragments of flint embedded in the grooves.These marks confirm the tool functioned as a hammer, repeatedly striking stone.[discovermagazine+12]
The tool itself is roughly triangular, measuring about 11 centimeters (4.3 inches) long, 6 centimeters (2.4 inches) wide, and 3 centimeters (1.2 inches) thick.It consists mostly of cortical bone, the dense outer layer of elephant bone tissue.This material proved ideal for sharpening stone tools because it was softer than stone, allowing for more precise shaping, yet durable enough for repeated use.Simon Parfitt, lead author and a research fellow at UCL and the Natural History Museum, highlighted the ingenuity of early ancestors. "This remarkable discovery showcases the ingenuity and resourcefulness of our ancient ancestors," Parfitt told Discover Magazine.He added that they had a deep understanding of local materials and knew how to craft highly refined stone tools.[greekreporter+11]
Uncovering Advanced Cognitive Skills
The discovery of this elephant bone retoucher points to a high level of abstract thinking, planning, and knowledge about materials in early humans.Early humans not only recognized the usefulness of elephant bone but also collected, shaped, transported, and reused it over time.These behaviors are strongly associated with advanced cognitive development.Dr. Silvia Bello, a co-author and merit researcher at the Natural History Museum, emphasized the complex thought involved."Selecting and shaping an elephant bone fragment, then repeatedly using it to maintain stone tools, reflects advanced planning, abstract thinking, and an impressive ability to make the most of available resources," Bello said.[thebrighterside+11]
Elephant bone would have been a rare and valuable resource in prehistoric southern England.The fact that early humans curated and transported this tool, rather than discarding it, further underscores its importance and their foresight.The tool was used for "knapping," a process where it was hit against dulled stone handaxes to chip away flakes and restore their sharp edges.This meticulous process was essential for maintaining effective cutting tools used for hunting, butchery, and daily survival.The species responsible for this innovation were likely early Neanderthals or Homo heidelbergensis, a human relative living in Europe around that time.This finding offers an extraordinary glimpse into the technological abilities of these early human ancestors.[thebrighterside+17]
Broader Context of Bone Tool Use
While this is Europe's oldest elephant bone tool, evidence of bone tool use dates back even further in other parts of the world. In Africa, for example, archaeologists found 1.5-million-year-old tools made from large mammal limb bones at Olduvai Gorge in Tanzania.These earlier tools were primarily made from hippopotamus and elephant bones.However, reliable evidence of similar bone tools in Europe from such an early period has been scarce and often debated.The Boxgrove discovery provides clear, unambiguous evidence for sophisticated bone tool technology in Europe half a million years ago.[discovermagazine+9]
During the Middle Pleistocene, large straight-tusked elephants, weighing up to 13 metric tons, roamed across Europe.These massive animals provided significant resources, including thousands of kilograms of meat, fat, marrow, skin, and a large amount of bone material.Early humans utilized these resources extensively. At sites like Revadim Quarry in Israel, dating to a similar period (300,000 to 500,000 years ago), archaeologists found stone tools alongside butchered elephant remains, complete with fat and bone residue.This indicates early humans, possibly Homo erectus, used stone tools to process elephant carcasses for food.The Boxgrove bone tool, however, shows a different application: using elephant bone itself as a tool to improve other tools.This practice demonstrates a comprehensive understanding of available materials and their varied potential uses.[thebrighterside+11]
Rewriting the Story of Early European Hominins
This groundbreaking find at Boxgrove challenges previous assumptions about the technological capabilities of early human ancestors in Europe. It shows that these hominins were not merely opportunistic scavengers or simple tool-makers. Instead, they were skilled craftspersons with a deep knowledge of their environment and the properties of different materials.The ability to create and curate such a specialized tool reflects a more complex culture than often attributed to this period.[discoverwildlife+3]
The discovery also sheds light on the broader picture of technological development. Knapping tools made from organic materials like bone, antler, and wood were crucial for early humans but rarely survive in the archaeological record.The excellent preservation of the Boxgrove elephant bone tool provides a rare and valuable insight into these perishable technologies. This study, published in the journal Science Advances, encourages archaeologists to re-examine other bone fragments from ancient sites, potentially uncovering more examples of early human ingenuity.It paints a picture of resourceful and intelligent ancestors who planned ahead and adapted their tools to maximize efficiency, fundamentally changing our understanding of their cognitive complexity.[livescience+6]
