Prehistoric bone tools in South Africa

2001/12/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Paleontologia
• Giza zientziak
• Arkeologia

The University of Arizona has exposed the bone remains found in an archaeological site in South Africa. These devices are about 70,000 years old, so it has been seen that the technology to work the bones and manufacture the tools is older than previously thought.

The oldest bone tools known so far were those of the Upper Palaeolithic, that is, at most 35,000 years ago. In addition, until the appearance of South African instruments, the oldest known bone appliances have been found in Europe. According to this latest discovery, bone tool manufacturing technology may have its origin in Africa.

The presence of traces of knowledge of these technologies in Africa 35,000 years earlier than in Europe can influence hypotheses about the evolution and migration of early human beings.