World's Oldest Stone Tools Discovered In Kenya

sciencehabit writes: Researchers say they have found the oldest tools made by human ancestors—stone flakes dated to 3.3 million years ago. That's 700,000 years older than the oldest-known tools to date, suggesting that our ancestors were crafting tools several hundred thousand years before our genus Homo arrived on the scene. If correct, the new evidence could confirm disputed claims for very early tool use, and it suggests that ancient australopithecines like the famed 'Lucy' may have fashioned stone.

Comments

The secret is...

[wonkey_monkey]

...to bang the rocks together, guys.

Re:why must human ancestors be involved

[Anonymous Coward]

New Caledonian crows are known to be tool users and makers. Some of the tools they make could be classified as "knives":

http://www.welcomewildlife.com/?folder=pages/featured/birds/smartest
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Caledonian_crow#Tool_use_and_manufacture

Or it could be their breakfast.

[Ecuador]

I mean, how can you tell rock flakes from 3.3 million year old corn flakes...

Re:why must human ancestors be involved

[gsslay]

You don't know which species had "human-like" intelligence 3.3 million years ago. There were a number of "human-like" species that aren't our ancestors.

Re:why must human ancestors be involved

[XxtraLarGe]

Mostly because Humans are the only ones that love killing each other.

Dont see prides of lions killing the pride next door just for shits and giggles

Sure they do, if you count sex. Male lions will kill rival males in other prides so they can take over mating rights. Both male lions & female lions will kill the cubs of rival prides.