2 Million year old tools found in a South African cave.

[karadan]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/p ... html/1.stm

I wonder if god put them there to test us? I wonder what his agenda is...  

[Wechtlein Uns]

I doubt they were used by homo sapiens. Probably some other reasonably advanced species that eventually died out.

[Kylyssa]

They were used by people,not homo sapiens, but people.  That is totally awesome!

[Squid]

I doubt they were used by homo sapiens. Probably some other reasonably advanced species that eventually died out.

No, Homo sapiens don't go back that far, our species originated around 200,000 or so years ago.  Our modern sub-species (Homo sapiens sapiens) appeared around 110,000 or so years ago.  That far back it was most likely the work of Homo habilis, the very first species of the Homo genus.

[DennisK]

Very cool!  Is there any description of the tools?

[karadan]

Very cool!  Is there any description of the tools?

Only that they were made out of stone. Unfortunately there was no article, just a picture with a description.

[BadPoison]

I found this webpage that has some information on presumably the same cave. Check it out for yourselves.

http://www.donsmaps.com/wonderwerk.html


But it does appear that this is not a new discovery (though no less fantastic) -- the webpage implies that there were stone tools found to be 2million years old+ in 1993 (if i'm reading correctly)

[crocofish]

That far back it was most likely the work of Homo habilis, the very first species of the Homo genus.

The caption of the picture states that it is probably the work of Homo Habilis.  Tool use is seen in some of the present day great apes, otters, and some birds, although they typically are not carving their own tools out of stone, just using available sticks and stones.

[Squid]

That far back it was most likely the work of Homo habilis, the very first species of the Homo genus.

The caption of the picture states that it is probably the work of Homo Habilis.  Tool use is seen in some of the present day great apes, otters, and some birds, although they typically are not carving their own tools out of stone, just using available sticks and stones.

Very true. I have a fairly recent article (somewhere) on chimps fashioning crude spears to hunt Bush Babies.

[BadPoison]

These wo articles are a little off-topic, but they address chimpanzees and their use of tools, and perhaps their personhood.


"Chimps pass on gadget use like humans"
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19108970/

And:

"Chimps: Not Human, But Are They People?"
http://blog.wired.com/wiredscience/2008/10/chimpanzees-not.html

[SSY]

I love observing tool use in animals, my favorites are ravens that become attached to their own grub hunting spines and carry their favorite one around with them rather than getting new ones.

[karadan]

I love observing tool use in animals, my favorites are ravens that become attached to their own grub hunting spines and carry their favorite one around with them rather than getting new ones.

Ravens and crows are really intelligent. They can work out some amazingly complex puzzles, but only when the reward is right :p

[BadPoison]

I'm fascinated by animals that display culture. Orcas and penguins as my favorite examples.

[karadan]

I'm fascinated by animals that display culture. Orcas and penguins as my favorite examples.

Yeah, penguins are totally ace.