Early stone tool use was more widespread across East Africa than previously thought
In short: Researchers studying ancient sites in Kenya found that the earliest Oldowan stone tools were used much further from Ethiopia than previously known. Analyzing sites dating from 3.032 to 2.581 million years ago, the team observed evidence of butchery and plant processing, suggesting these early hominins utilized a diverse range of food sources.
By examining tool use-wear, bone damage, and teeth from Paranthropus, the study identified both animal and plant tissue processing. The findings expand the known geographic range of these early toolmakers by over 1,300 kilometers, though the study focuses on specific sites in southwestern Kenya.
Why it matters: Early stone tool use was far more geographically widespread and dietarily diverse than once believed.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Research: Plummer et al. (2023). Expanded geographic distribution and dietary strategies of the earliest Oldowan hominins and Paranthropus. Science.
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