Prehistoric Bone Tools in South Africa

2001/11/14 Araolaza, Oier - Elhuyar Zientziaren Komunikazioa | Roa Zubia, Guillermo - Elhuyar Zientzia

• Paleontologia
• Historia
• Giza zientziak
• Arkeologia

The oldest bone tools that were 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 apparatuses have been found in Europe. According to this latest discovery, the technology for the manufacture of bone instruments can have its origin in Africa. The presence of traces of knowledge of these technologies in Africa 35,000 years before Europe can influence the hypotheses on the evolution and migrations of the first human beings.

According to a hypothesis, the human being spontaneously developed his creativity. Later, the man left Africa to disperse in Europe and Asia. Supporters of this hypothesis, however, do not know the time elapsed from the development of creativity to the beginning of migrations, tools of 70,000 years located in South Africa could help answer this question.

However, the dating of these tools has been questioned by several experts. The utensils were found buried in the sand, which has been analyzed by archaeologists. However, it is possible that these instruments have been introduced over the years in the lower layers of this sand, in order to clarify whether this has happened or not, the age of the instruments should be analyzed. Paleoanthropologists also want to excavate in nearby caves in search of more similar instruments.