Stone tool

Human Evolution: Origins and Evolutionary History of Homo sapiens

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Human evolution is the process by which Homo sapiens, the modern human species, emerged and diversified from earlier hominin ancestors over millions of years. It is a complex and fascinating journey that spans millions of years and involves numerous species, environmental changes, adaptations, and migrations. Understanding human evolution requires interdisciplinary approaches, drawing insights from paleontology, … Read more

Competition, not just climate, shaped hominin evolution, new study suggests

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Competition between species played a major role in the rise and fall of hominins—and produced a “bizarre” evolutionary pattern for the Homo lineage—according to a new University of Cambridge study that revises the start and end dates for many of our early ancestors. Conventionally, climate is held responsible for the emergence and extinction of hominin … Read more

40,000-year-old culture in Northern China

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When did populations of Homo sapiens first arrive in China and what happened when they encountered the Denisovans or Neanderthals who lived there? A new study in Nature by an international team of researchers opens a window into hunter-gatherer lifestyles 40,000 years ago. Archaeological excavations at the site of Xiamabei in the Nihewan Basin of … Read more

Stone tools in Ukraine may be oldest evidence of early humans in Europe

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Ancient stone tools unearthed in western Ukraine have unveiled a fascinating narrative of early human presence in Europe, shedding light on our ancestors’ remarkable adaptability and ingenuity. Recently published in the prestigious journal Nature, the findings indicate that these chipped stones, meticulously crafted from volcanic rock, could be the oldest known evidence of human activity … Read more

How do archaeologists differentiate between different periods of human prehistory?

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Archaeologists differentiate between different periods of human prehistory through a combination of chronological dating methods, material culture analysis, stratigraphy, and interdisciplinary research. Human prehistory encompasses vast spans of time, ranging from the emergence of our earliest ancestors millions of years ago to the advent of written records around 5,000 years ago. During this long and … Read more

Early humans in Africa demonstrated strategic material selection for tools over 60,000 years ago

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Early hunter–gatherers from the Middle Stone Age in southern Africa were selecting the most suitable material available for stone tools and spearheads more than 60,000 years ago, according to a study by Dr. Patrick Schmidt from the University of Tübingen’s Early Prehistory and Quaternary Ecology section. Researchers involved in the study used a specially developed … Read more

Analysis of obsidian blade links Texas panhandle to coronado expedition

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It’s a small piece of obsidian, just over 5 centimeters long, likely found on a hard-scrabble piece of ranchland in the Texas panhandle. But when SMU anthropologist Matthew Boulanger looks at it, he gets a mental image of Spanish explorer Francisco Vasquez de Coronado making his way across the plains more than 470 years ago … Read more

Neanderthals used “super glue” 40,000 years ago

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Neanderthals created stone tools held together by a multi-component adhesive, a team of scientists has discovered. Its findings, which are the earliest evidence of a complex adhesive in Europe, suggest these predecessors to modern humans had a higher level of cognition and cultural development than previously thought. The work, reported in the journal Science Advances, … Read more

Microscopic and macroscopic traces help identify woodworking activities on Stone tools

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Researchers at Tokyo Metropolitan University have provided fascinating insights into the woodworking technology of prehistoric humans. By crafting replica Stone Age tools and subjecting them to various tasks, the team discovered that different activities leave distinct traces on the tool’s edge. Combining macroscopic and microscopic evidence, they were able to differentiate tools used for wood-felling … Read more

New study identifies oldest bead in Americas at 12,940 years old

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University of Wyoming archaeology Professor Todd Surovell and his team of collaborators have discovered a tube-shaped bead made of bone that is about 12,940 years old. The bead, found at the La Prele Mammoth site in Converse County, is the oldest known bead in the Americas. Surovell’s research is published in Scientific Reports; the paper … Read more

Stone tool technology suggests nuanced cultural evolution in early humans

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A study led by researchers at the Nagoya University Museum in Japan may change how we understand the cultural evolution of Homo sapiens at the time of their dispersal across Eurasia about 50,000 to 40,000 years ago. These findings challenge traditional beliefs about the timing and nature of cultural transitions during this critical period in … Read more

Modern humans reached Northern Europe 45,000 years ago, overlapping with Neanderthals

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A genetic analysis of bone fragments unearthed at an archaeological site in central Germany shows conclusively that modern humans—Homo sapiens—had already reached Northern Europe 45,000 years ago, overlapping with Neanderthals for several thousand years before the latter went extinct. The findings establish that the site near Ranis, Germany, which is known for its finely flaked, … Read more

Mammoth’s journey traces path of early Alaskans

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Researchers have linked the travels of a 14,000-year-old wooly mammoth with the oldest known human settlements in Alaska, providing clues about the relationship between the iconic species and some of the earliest people to travel across the Bering Land Bridge. Scientists made those connections by using isotope analysis to study the life of a female … Read more

Archery emerged 5,000 years ago in the Andes

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In the ongoing discourse among anthropologists and archaeologists about the emergence of archery in the Americas and its societal implications, a recent study led by a University of California, Davis, anthropologist sheds new light on this enigma. Published in Quaternary International, the research focuses on the Lake Titicaca Basin in the Andes mountains. Contrary to … Read more

How has the discovery of ancient tools and artifacts shaped our understanding of human origins?

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The discovery of ancient tools and artifacts has played a pivotal role in shaping our understanding of human origins, providing crucial insights into the technological, cognitive, and behavioral evolution of our ancestors. These material remains serve as tangible links to the past, offering a window into the ways early humans interacted with their environment, developed … Read more

What evidence supports the “Out of Africa” theory of human migration?

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The “Out of Africa” theory, also known as the recent African origin of modern humans, is a widely accepted model explaining the migration and dispersal of Homo sapiens from Africa to populate the rest of the world. This theory posits that anatomically modern humans originated in Africa and then migrated and replaced archaic human populations … Read more

What role did environmental factors play in human evolution?

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Environmental factors have played a pivotal role in shaping the course of human evolution over millions of years. The intricate dance between Homo sapiens and their surroundings has been a driving force in the development of various traits and adaptations that define our species today. From the lush landscapes of Africa to the diverse climates … Read more

Neanderthals regularly hunted straight-tusked elephants, study finds

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The pursuit of the now-extinct straight-tusked elephant, Palaeoloxodon antiquus, was a widespread practice among Neanderthals, as revealed by a research collaboration involving Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU), the Leibniz-Zentrum für Archäologie (LEIZA), based in Mainz, and Leiden University in the Netherlands. Recently published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the study focused on … Read more

Early humans were choosy about their rocks, study finds

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A research team, led by the Nagoya University Museum and Graduate School of Environmental Studies in Japan, has brought clarity to the distinctions in the physical attributes of rocks utilized by early humans during the Paleolithic era. Their findings challenge the notion that humans chose rocks solely based on ease of detachment, indicating a more … Read more

Neanderthal bone tool discovery challenges linear view of human evolution

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University of Montreal researchers have unearthed a groundbreaking discovery at an archaeological site in France – a versatile bone tool from the Neanderthal era, challenging existing perceptions of human behavior evolution. Luc Doyon from the university’s Department of Anthropology emphasized the significance, stating, “This is the first time a multi-purpose bone tool from this period … Read more