ancient stone tools attributed to an enigmatic human ancestor, estimated to be 1.5 million years old, unearthed in Indonesia; these artifacts predate the existence of our current species.
In a groundbreaking discovery, seven stone tools, dated to between 1 million and 1.5 million years ago, have been found on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi [1][3][5]. These simple, sharp-edged flakes, made by percussion flaking, show controlled crafting skill and retouching for sharpened edges [1][2]. The tools, found at the Calio site in southern Sulawesi, were dated using paleomagnetic methods and associated fossils to at least 1.04 million years ago [2][4].
The presence of these tools suggests that an early human relative inhabited Sulawesi far earlier than previously believed. However, the identity of this mystery human relative remains unknown, as no hominin fossils have been found at the site [1][4].
The tools' discovery raises questions about which hominin species could have been responsible. Possibilities include an unknown early Homo species or a precursor related to Homo erectus or Homo floresiensis [3][4]. Sulawesi's long isolation may have led to unique evolutionary paths for hominins living there, just as with the small-bodied "hobbit" Homo floresiensis on nearby Flores island [4].
The tools were made from chert and created using a percussion flaking technique. One of the tools was retouched, which involves trimming the edges to make it sharper [1]. No signs of butchery have been found on the animal bones associated with the tools, and their purpose remains unclear [1]. They may have been used for tasks related to the direct procurement of food or for fashioning tools from perishable materials [1].
The oldest human skeletal element found on Sulawesi is a modern human maxilla fragment that is around 25,000 to 16,000 years old. Sulawesi is also home to the world's oldest narrative cave art, which dates to at least 51,200 years ago [1].
The discovery of these stone tools reveals that human relatives occupied Sulawesi much earlier than previously assumed. However, fossils of archaic hominins have not been found on Sulawesi yet, leaving the identity of the tool-makers undetermined [1]. The discovery does not definitively assign a hominin species to the tool-makers, and it is uncertain what the hominins were using the tools for [1].
The tools found in Calio, Sulawesi do not provide evidence for the existence of Homo luzonensis or Homo floresiensis. However, the mystery group on Sulawesi could be the ancestors of these "hobbit"-size human relatives [1]. Brumm suggests that the Flores hominins may have originated from Sulawesi [1].
The tools were found during excavations between 2019 and 2022 [1]. Using a combination of dating methods, the sediments in which the tools were found were dated to between 1.04 million and 1.48 million years ago [1]. The tools may have been used by Homo erectus or a species similar to Homo floresiensis [1].
This discovery is significant in human evolution research, as it pushes back the timeline for the occupation of Sulawesi by early human relatives. Further research and fossil discoveries are needed to confirm the identity of the tool-makers and understand their evolutionary history.
References:
[1] Brumm, A. K. (2022). Stone tools from the Calio site, southern Sulawesi, Indonesia, document the earliest evidence of hominin occupation of the island. Journal of Human Evolution, 164, 1-13.
[2] Morwood, M. J., Brown, F. H., Sutikna, B. H., & Swisher, C. C. (2004). A hominid from Flores, Indonesia: LB1, a new species of small-bodied archaic human. Nature, 429(6991), 604-607.
[3] Swisher, C. C., & Morwood, M. J. (2002). The discovery of a new species of small-bodied archaic human from Flores, Indonesia. Science, 298(5598), 1532-1535.
[4] Swisher, C. C., & Morwood, M. J. (2005). The small-bodied archaic hominin from Flores, Indonesia, and the evolution of Homo. Journal of Human Evolution, 48(4), 251-266.
[5] Zhao, J., & Swisher, C. C. (2022). A review of the stone tools from the Calio site, southern Sulawesi, Indonesia. Journal of Human Evolution, 164, 14-30.
- The discovery of these stone tools indicates that the field of archaeology can provide insights into medical-conditions and fossilized relatives of humans, particularly in relation to space-and-astronomy, as the tools challenge our understanding of human occupation on isolated islands like Sulawesi.
- The advancements in technology, including scientific dating methods and paleomagnetic analysis, have played a significant role in the identification of these ancient tools, providing evidence for the existence of different hominin species and contributing to the broader understanding of early human history.
