New research reveals that two million years ago, Homo erectus inhabited the high-altitude Ethiopian highlands and exhibited advanced tool-making abilities, producing both Oldowan and Acheulean tools. This discovery, based on a reevaluation of a fossil discovered in 1981, underscores the species’ remarkable adaptability and technological progress.
Two million years in the past, Homo erectus extended their presence from the lowland savannas of East Africa to the high-altitude regions of the Ethiopian highlands. A recent study sheds light on their craftsmanship, as they crafted both Oldowan and Acheulean tools in these elevated terrains. Furthermore, it reevaluates the significance of an early hominin fossil initially unearthed in 1981, providing fresh insights into the evolutionary journey, migratory patterns, and adaptive capabilities of our early human ancestors.
In Africa, the scarcity of hominin fossils directly associated with stone tools has posed challenges in connecting Homo habilis and Homo erectus with specific stone tool industries, namely Oldowan or Acheulean.
One crucial region for addressing this question is the Melka Kunture complex, a group of prehistoric sites situated in the Ethiopian highlands at an elevation of approximately 2000 meters above sea level. In 1981, a fossilized infant mandible was discovered at the Garba IV site, found alongside Oldowan lithic tools. However, there has been ongoing debate about the hominin species represented by this fossil.
Key Findings and Implications of the Study
In this investigation, Margherita Mussi and her team meticulously examine the geological context of the Garba IV site and reevaluate the taxonomic identity of the fossil mandible. Utilizing synchrotron imaging to analyze the internal structure of the unerupted teeth within the Garba IV mandible, Mussi et al. conclusively establish its affiliation with H. erectus.
Furthermore, by combining initial argon-argon dating of the site’s stratigraphy with a more recently published magnetostratigraphic analysis, the researchers assert that the fossil dates back approximately two million years, marking it as one of the earliest specimens of H. erectus ever found and the only one unequivocally linked to an extensive Oldowan lithic industry.
The overlying strata, containing Acheulean tools and dating to around 1.95 million years ago, represent the earliest evidence of Acheulean lithic technology. According to Mussi et al., these findings demonstrate that by two million years ago, H. erectus had swiftly and effectively adapted to a high-altitude mountain environment, initially crafting Oldowan tools and later progressing to Acheulean technology.
Reference: “Early Homo erectus lived at high altitudes and produced both Oldowan and Acheulean tools” by Margherita Mussi, Matthew M. Skinner, Rita T. Melis, Joaquín Panera, Susana Rubio-Jara, Thomas W. Davies, Denis Geraads, Hervé Bocherens, Giuseppe Briatico, Adeline Le Cabec, Jean-Jacques Hublin, Agness Gidna, Raymonde Bonnefille, Luca Di Bianco and Eduardo Méndez-Quintas, 12 October 2023, Science.
DOI: 10.1126/science.add9115
Table of Contents
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Early Hominin Tool-making
Q: What is the significance of the discovery in the Ethiopian highlands?
A: The discovery in the Ethiopian highlands is significant because it provides evidence that Homo erectus inhabited high-altitude environments two million years ago and had the ability to create advanced tools, shedding light on their adaptability and technological progress.
Q: What were the types of tools produced by Homo erectus in the highlands?
A: Homo erectus in the highlands of Ethiopia produced both Oldowan and Acheulean tools, showcasing their advanced tool-making capabilities and technological evolution.
Q: Why is the Garba IV fossil important?
A: The Garba IV fossil, discovered in 1981, is crucial because it has been reevaluated to confirm its affiliation with Homo erectus and its age of approximately two million years, making it one of the earliest known specimens of this species.
Q: How does this discovery impact our understanding of early human migration patterns?
A: This discovery suggests that Homo erectus rapidly adapted to high-altitude mountain environments, indicating their ability to migrate and thrive in diverse landscapes, expanding our understanding of their migratory patterns.
Q: What is the significance of the Acheulean tool-bearing strata mentioned in the study?
A: The Acheulean tool-bearing strata, dating to around 1.95 million years ago, represent the earliest known evidence of Acheulean lithic technology, showcasing the technological progression of Homo erectus in the Ethiopian highlands.
Q: How was the taxonomic identity of the Garba IV fossil confirmed?
A: The taxonomic identity of the Garba IV fossil was confirmed through the use of synchrotron imaging, which allowed researchers to analyze the internal structure of the unerupted teeth within the mandible, definitively establishing it as Homo erectus.
More about Early Hominin Tool-making
- Science – “Early Homo erectus lived at high altitudes and produced both Oldowan and Acheulean tools”
4 comments
Wait, Homo erectus were in the Ethiopian highlands? That’s interesting, wonder if they had cars back then! _xD83D__xDE97__xD83D__xDCA8_
wow, dis is amazin’! dem Homo erectus folks were smart makin’ dem tools way up in dem hills, 2 mil years ago. im impressd _xD83D__xDE32_
Homo erectus, high up, 2 million years, tools – cool stuff, dude!
So, like, Homo erectus was in the mountains, made tools, and stuff? That’s wild!