AndreaGail
12th August 2010, 05:42 PM
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=138465§ionid=3510208
Study: Men used tools 3.4mn years ago
Thu, 12 Aug 2010 18:28:23 GMT
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Humans used tools for cutting meat to the bone some 3.4 million years ago, one million years earlier than previously thought, a new study says.
The new revelation was made when two mammal bones were found in Ethiopia's Afar region.
The bones have fragments missing which can only mean that they were removed by sharp tools some 3.4 million years ago. The report was published in the recent issue of journal Nature.
There were also hammer-like marks on the bones showing blows were made to crack open the bone in order to get inside and eat the tasty marrow.
The finding predates the previous oldest finding of such tools, which belong to some 2.5 million years ago.
The ability to craft tools are often considered as watershed moments in human evolution, distinguishing the humans from other species .
Lead researcher Zeresenay Alemseged of the California Academy of Sciences states, "This discovery dramatically shifts the known time frame of a game-changing behavior for our ancestors."
"These developments had a huge impact on the story of humanity," he added.
The age of the pieces, one rib and a femur, was found through examining the volcanic ashes they were encased in.
The marks on the bones were visibly left by a sharp tool, and not the teeth of an animal.
Considering that there are no large stones in the area, the tools were possibly carried from somewhere else, the study said.
SAR/AKM
Study: Men used tools 3.4mn years ago
Thu, 12 Aug 2010 18:28:23 GMT
Font size :
Humans used tools for cutting meat to the bone some 3.4 million years ago, one million years earlier than previously thought, a new study says.
The new revelation was made when two mammal bones were found in Ethiopia's Afar region.
The bones have fragments missing which can only mean that they were removed by sharp tools some 3.4 million years ago. The report was published in the recent issue of journal Nature.
There were also hammer-like marks on the bones showing blows were made to crack open the bone in order to get inside and eat the tasty marrow.
The finding predates the previous oldest finding of such tools, which belong to some 2.5 million years ago.
The ability to craft tools are often considered as watershed moments in human evolution, distinguishing the humans from other species .
Lead researcher Zeresenay Alemseged of the California Academy of Sciences states, "This discovery dramatically shifts the known time frame of a game-changing behavior for our ancestors."
"These developments had a huge impact on the story of humanity," he added.
The age of the pieces, one rib and a femur, was found through examining the volcanic ashes they were encased in.
The marks on the bones were visibly left by a sharp tool, and not the teeth of an animal.
Considering that there are no large stones in the area, the tools were possibly carried from somewhere else, the study said.
SAR/AKM