Prehistoric stone tools: Sensational finds from Greece!

Prehistoric stone tools: Sensational finds from Greece!

In an international study, a research team led by the Senckenberg Center for Human Evolution and Palaeoenvironment at the University of Tübingen has presented fascinating results on the use of stone tools by early humans. This research focuses on the analysis of tools discovered in Marathousa 1 in Greece. The site, located in the Megalopolis Basin of the central Peloponnese, is dated to around 430,000 years ago and contains remains of the forest elephant Palaeoloxodon antiquus alongside numerous stone tools. These discoveries are part of the extensive knowledge about the development of tool culture in the Paleolithic.

The stone tools found during the excavations include flakes, retouched tools, cores and chip samples, among others. The average dimensions of the complete flakes are 21.08 mm x 17.62 mm x 6.89 mm with a weight of approximately 5.15 g, while the radiolarite flakes are slightly smaller and lighter. The tools themselves have average dimensions of 22.37 mm x 16.98 mm x 8.74 mm and weigh an average of 4.82 g. What is particularly noteworthy is that 33% of the finds have cortex and natural surfaces, indicating careful workmanship.

Technological advances in stone processing

The study shows that early humans used multiple tool-making techniques. These include freehand hitting and the bipolar hitting technique, with radiolarite serving as the preferred material. The combination of technological analyzes and experimental reconstructions of the manufacturing processes enabled deeper insights into the methods used to produce the tools. Small, sharp-edged cuts prove to be versatile and efficient when dissecting animals, with tools such as scrapers and drills sometimes being processed afterwards.

The research has also revealed a significant connection between the tools found and the remains of the forest elephant. The identified cut marks and impact marks on animal bones indicate that the animals were specifically processed. Numerous platform types are recorded in the archaeological collection, with plain, linear and faceted being the most common. The median values ​​of platform depth and external platform angle are impressive in their clarity, as are the detailed dorsal scar patterns of the flakes.

Insights into the Paleolithic

These finds are not only important for research in Greece, but also expand our knowledge of the Paleolithic in general. The Paleolithic, also known as the Paleolithic, is considered the first and longest period of prehistory in Europe and Asia, while tools made of bone and wood are rarer. Stone tools first appeared around 5-6 million years ago and revolutionized the lives of our ancestors. Manufacturing techniques improved over the millennia, which was crucial in helping people adapt to different ecological conditions.

Research into these early technologies shows that stone tools enabled essential functions such as processing plants, cutting meat, and making other tools. This makes them a central element in the reconstruction of human inventiveness. To better understand the mechanisms behind tool production, future studies should also take a closer look at behavioral patterns in other parts of Eurasia and the influence of environmental factors.

The comprehensive findings from this research not only provide a deep insight into the tool culture of early humans, but also into the evolutionary developments that were driven forward by the use of stone tools. Developments that are fundamental to human history.

You can find more details about the study in the reports Senckenberg Center for Human Evolution and Palaeoenvironment, PLOS ONE as well as in the analysis Tool culture in the Paleolithic.