Tag

Elephant Bone

All articles tagged with #elephant bone

500,000-Year-Old Elephant Bone Hammer Reframes European Toolmaking
science27 days ago

500,000-Year-Old Elephant Bone Hammer Reframes European Toolmaking

New analyses of a 500,000-year-old elephant bone hammer from Boxgrove, England, using 3D scanning and electron microscopy, reveal deliberate wear and flint residues showing it was a crafted tool used to shape stone, indicating advanced planning by Homo heidelbergensis or early Neanderthals and making it the oldest known elephant bone tool in Europe.

Ancient elephant-bone retoucher reveals 480,000-year-old European toolmaking prowess
science1 month ago

Ancient elephant-bone retoucher reveals 480,000-year-old European toolmaking prowess

A 4.3 by 2.3 inch elephant bone tool from Boxgrove, in southern England, has been identified as a retoucher used to knap and sharpen lithic hand axes about 480,000 years ago. This makes it the oldest known elephant-bone tool found in Europe and highlights early humans’ sophisticated material knowledge and craftsmanship, likely belonging to Homo heidelbergensis or early Neanderthals.