Researchers in China found evidence that 146,000 years ago, during a harsh ice age, a group of ancient humans crafted stone tools with surprisingly advanced technology. The finding comes from the archaeological site of Lingjing, in the central part of the country, and belongs to Homo juluensis, an extinct relative of modern humans.
For more than ten years, scientists excavated animal bones and sophisticated stone tools. The new study, published in the Journal of Human Evolution, determined that the site dates back to about 146,000 years ago, during a cold glacial period, and not during a warm stage as previously thought.
This information completely changes the traditional view. For a long time, it was believed that creativity and technological advancements primarily emerged during times of stability and abundance. However, the discovery shows that environmental difficulties can drive innovation and adaptation.
Tools that demonstrate planning
At first glance, the disc-shaped stone cores do not seem extraordinary. But a detailed analysis revealed a highly organized manufacturing process. The Homo juluensis struck smaller stones against larger cores to obtain useful sharp flakes.
Some cores were worked evenly on both sides, while others followed a more intentional design: one side served as a striking platform and the opposite was prepared to produce sharp flakes. This asymmetric technique indicates that the makers understood the stones as three-dimensional objects and did not just strike them randomly.
