Ancient Elephant Bone Hammer Discovered in England May Be Europe's Oldest Tool of Its Kind
A tool fashioned from an elephant bone approximately 480,000 years ago has been identified as potentially the earliest known artifact of its type discovered in Europe. Found in southern England during the 1990s, this ancient implement might have been crafted by either Neanderthals or Homo heidelbergensis, as indicated by recent research. The discovery provides significant insights into early human tool-making practices and technological capabilities on the continent.
Key facts
- Tool made from elephant bone approximately 480,000 years ago
- Potentially oldest known tool of its kind found in Europe
- Discovered in southern England in the mid-1990s
- Possible creators include Neanderthals or Homo heidelbergensis
- Findings based on a new study
Entities
Locations
- southern England
- Europe