Ancient humans moved diverse stones over substantial distances: Study

A recent study led by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History has uncovered a 2.6 million-year-old Oldowan stone toolkit in southwestern Kenya, revealing that early humans transported diverse stone materials over distances exceeding six miles. This finding pushes back the evidence of long-distance resource transport by hominins by approximately 600,000 years. Unlike previous assumptions that longer transport distances were a more recent evolutionary development, this discovery shows that early toolmakers had the knowledge and intent to carry high-quality raw materials to resource-rich locations, indicating advanced planning and forward thinking. The study, published in Science Advances, highlights that these early humans used stone tools not only for crafting but also for butchering large animals, suggesting a wide range of activities that enhanced their adaptability. Researchers emphasize that the ability to transport resources marks a major milestone in human evolution, reflecting mental mapping skills and strategic behavior. The toolkit from Nyayanga, Kenya, provides a significant snapshot of early human cognitive and cultural development, demonstrating that ancient