Overview
This lecture traces the origins and development of early human tool use, highlighting how technology influenced both our evolution and anatomy.
The Origins of Tool Use
- The earliest known tool use occurred around 2.5 million years ago in Ethiopia, at the Bouri site.
- Oldowan tools, named after Olduvai Gorge, are early stone flakes used for cutting meat.
- Technology is defined as creating and using tools to modify the environment for human needs.
Early Tool Types and Evolution
- Lomekwian tools from Kenya predate Oldowan tools by about 700,000 years and are simpler in design.
- Lomekwian tools were made by striking a rock against a fixed base to produce sharp edges.
- Both Lomekwian and Oldowan tools enabled early hominins to access high-calorie foods like marrow and nuts.
Impact of Tool Use on Human Evolution
- Regular meat and marrow consumption supported larger brain and body development in hominins.
- The genus Homo, especially Homo erectus, had larger brains and bodies, likely due to improved diets from tool use.
- Tool use may have begun a feedback loop where better tools supported bigger brains, leading to more advanced tools.
Global Spread and Innovation in Tools
- Homo erectus and the Acheulean toolkit (including hand-axes) appeared around 1.9 million years ago.
- Acheulean tools, previously thought to originate in Africa, were found in China dating to 2.1 million years ago.
- The makers of early non-African tools are uncertain, with Homo erectus or earlier Homo species as possible candidates.
Biological Effects of Toolmaking
- Studies using brain scans show toolmaking activates regions linked to coordination and planning, suggesting co-evolution of brains and technology.
- Experimental research indicates toolmaking and bone-breaking for marrow shaped the strength and flexibility of human hands.
- Increased thumb strength and better grip likely evolved in response to tool-use demands.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Oldowan tools — Simple stone flakes and cores used for cutting, dating back to about 2.5 million years ago.
- Lomekwian tools — Even earlier, simpler stone tools made around 3.3 million years ago.
- Acheulean toolkit — More complex stone tools (e.g., hand-axes) associated with Homo erectus.
- Hominins — Members of the human lineage more closely related to us than to chimpanzees.
- Australopithecines — Early, small-brained hominins, mostly from eastern and southern Africa.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review the different tool types (Lomekwian, Oldowan, Acheulean) and their characteristics.
- Understand how tool use links to human brain and hand evolution.
- Read about recent discoveries (e.g., Acheulean tools in China) for updated anthropological insights.