Early human populations used obsidian transported from distant sources for toolmaking
In short: Researchers examining the Olorgesailie basin in Kenya found that between 320,000 and 305,000 years ago, populations in eastern Africa began using obsidian sourced from far away. This shift in stone procurement suggests the early development of social exchange during the transition to the Middle Stone Age.
By analyzing archaeological evidence from the southern Kenya rift valley, the study observed a technological shift involving long-distance stone transport. This finding is significant because it points to burgeoning social networks among early hominins. However, the study's conclusions are based on the specific archaeological record of the Olorgesailie basin.
This discovery adds a new layer to our understanding of the origins of Homo sapiens by linking technological changes to social complexity.
Why it matters: The use of distant materials suggests that early human social networks were already forming.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Research: Brooks et al. (2018). Long-distance stone transport and pigment use in the earliest Middle Stone Age. Science.
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