Scientists have unearthed and dated some of the oldest stone
hand axes on Earth. The ancient tools, unearthed in Ethiopia in
the last two decades, date to 1.75 million years ago. The tools
roughly coincided with the emergence of an ancient human
ancestor called Homo erectus, and fossilized H. erectus remains
were also found at the same site, said study author Yonas
Beyene, an archaeologist at the Association for Research and
Conservation of Culture in Ethiopia. Collectively, the finding
suggests an ancient tool-making technique may have arisen with
the evolution of the new species. Science news from NBCNews.com
"This discovery shows that the technology began with the
appearance of Homo erectus," Beyene told LiveScience. "We think
it might be related to the change of species." The findings were
described Jan. 28 in the journal Proceedings of the National
Academy of Sciences, Human ancestors used primitive tools as far
back as 2.6 million years ago, when Homo habilis roamed the
Earth. But those tools, called Ol