Europe's oldest stone hand axes emerge in Spain [900,000 years B.P.]

Science News ^ | Wednesday, September 2nd, 2009 | Bruce Bower

[SunkenCiv]

A new analysis finds that human ancestors living in what is now Spain fashioned double-edged stone cutting tools as early as 900,000 years ago, almost twice as long ago as previous estimates for this technological achievement in Europe.

If confirmed, the new dates support the idea that the manufacture and use of teardrop-shaped stone implements, known as hand axes, spread rapidly from Africa into Europe and Asia beginning roughly 1 million years ago, say geologist Gary Scott and paleontologist Luis Gibert, both of the Berkeley Geochronology Center in California.

Evidence of ancient reversals of Earth's magnetic field in soil at two archaeological sites indicates that hand axes date to 900,000 years ago in one location and to 760,000 years ago in the other, Scott and Gibert report in the Sept. 3 Nature. Until now, most researchers thought that hand axes unearthed at these sites were made between 500,000 and 200,000 years ago.

[JoeProBono]

With an axe to grind

[Daffynition]

Fitting the stone tools should be found in what is now Sweden.

The world's finest axes are hand forged by Gränsfors Bruks.

They are tools to reckon with, bar none.

[rdl6989]

almost twice as long ago as previous estimates for this technological achievement in Europe.

Very interesting.

[Domangart]

Some guy said they are gator stones.

[BJClinton]

For the Horde!

Oops, I let me geek show.

[colorado tanker]

Honeee! Have you seen my hand axe? I know I set it down here somewhere . . . .

[MortMan]

Ggggrrrrrriiiiiiiinnnnnnnndddddddd...

BOOOOOMMM!

[SunkenCiv]

I went far away, across the rivers and hills, to learn hunting from a master. When I got back four years later, my mom had thrown out all my cave art.

[Dysart]

Just wait until B.B.O.

As in, this was America B.B.O., and this is Barackica today some 17 years hence after his successful 4th term.

[SunkenCiv]

In an article I found during my lunch hour today, same find, I noticed that even older stuff has been found in Spain, just not axes. :')

[SunkenCiv]

Sweden?

[Hound of the Baskervilles]

cool. We have a hand axe that came from Oklahoma that is about 3000 to 5000 years old. It is clearly a man made tool. I think it was used for cutting up roots and fruit to scrape out the pulp and also for scraping meat off animal skins and digging out bone marrow. It fits perfectly in the palm of the hand and is very comfortable and smooth. It even has a good solid balanced feel. It’s amazing just to hold it and think of the ancients who used it... perhaps many generations of stone age people.

[ICCtheWay]

Yes - you capture my feelings about the hand axe I have - very odd feeling to hold an object used by a human thousands and thousands of years ago...

I’d post the photos here - but can’t figure out this antique image positing system on FR...

I may post them on webshots.com where I have many dozens of fossil photos....

Never the less - if anyone wants several photos of my hand axe then send me an email to -— joe@terrafaction.com (a very highly spam protected email system)...

[SunkenCiv]

That had an edge to it.

[SunkenCiv]

Ah, I see, you’re too subtle for ‘Civ. ;’)

[colorado tanker]

I went far away, across the rivers and hills, to learn hunting from a master. When I got back four years later, my mom had thrown out all my cave art.

Your Mom found your stash of Playcaveboy??? Sorry, dude.

[SunkenCiv]

:’) I think it’s sexier to see an unshaved woman covered up by a mammoth hide with just some tantalizing parts slightly exposed, than to see her buck naked. ;’)