TL;DR:
- Researchers use advanced chemical analysis and AI to determine the origin of 750,000-year-old flint hand axes created by Homo Erectus.
- The study shows that early humans traveled long distances to obtain specific types of stone flint for tool-making, highlighting their planning abilities and intergenerational knowledge transfer.
- Through mass spectrometry and a dedicated algorithm, the researchers identified the Dishon streambed as the source of the flint used for hand axes.
- This groundbreaking methodology opens doors to understanding trade routes and collaborative efforts in prehistoric times.
Main AI News:
Cutting-edge research utilizing advanced chemical analysis and artificial intelligence has shed light on the origins of flint hand axes created by early humans around 750,000 years ago, according to an article featured in the esteemed journal Geoarchaeology. Scientists have employed groundbreaking technology to determine that Homo Erectus, an extinct human species, embarked on arduous journeys spanning more than a day to procure a specific type of stone flint necessary for crafting these tools, underscoring their remarkable capacity for intricate planning and intergenerational knowledge transfer.
Dr. Meir Finkel, a prominent researcher from Tel Aviv University involved in the study, emphasized the underappreciated sophistication of planning and knowledge transference exhibited by early humans during this period. This groundbreaking research reveals that ancient humans, particularly those residing in the Galilee region, possessed an extraordinary ability to undertake complex journeys and exchange information across generations.
The archaeological investigations centered around two Acheulian sites, namely Gesher Banot Yaakov and Ma’ayan Barukh, located in the vicinity of the northern part of the Sea of Galilee. The extensive analysis led the researchers to conclude that the hand axes discovered at these sites were fashioned from stone sourced from the Dishon streambed, which required a day’s worth of travel and encompassed an elevation climb of over 750 meters (2,500 feet). The Acheulian era, dating back 1.7 million to 200,000 years ago during the Paleolithic period, marked a significant milestone in human history when early humans mastered the art of creating stone tools, particularly hand axes and cleavers.
Finkel expressed the significance of their findings, stating, “We succeeded in demonstrating, from a geochemical perspective and with respect to the quantity of stone, that these early humans ventured up a mountain, covering a staggering distance of 20 kilometers (12.4 miles) with an elevation gain of 750 meters, all in one direction. This journey required careful planning and coordination.”
To pinpoint the precise source of the flint, the researchers employed two cutting-edge technologies. Initially, they meticulously ground ten hand axes obtained from each site into a fine powder. Subsequently, they subjected the samples to mass spectrometry, an analytical technique capable of identifying individual elements within a given sample. Dr. Yoav Ben Dor, a researcher from the geochemistry department at the Geological Survey of Israel and a co-author of the study, lauded the technique’s remarkable precision, explaining that it can detect elements at the parts-per-billion level.
This rigorous analysis enabled the team to uncover a distinctive chemical signature, akin to a unique thumbprint, for each hand ax, thereby allowing them to match the stones with specific geological layers or the time period of their origin. Through this process, the researchers determined that the hand axes were forged during the Eocene Epoch, approximately 60 million years ago, when the relevant stones were deposited on the sea bed. Upon examining maps, they identified that the Dishon streambed contained exposed rocks from the Eocene Epoch, and subsequent testing confirmed the chemical resemblance, affirming their hypothesis. Notably, mass spectrometers are scarce in Israel, with only one or two such instruments, including the one at Tel Aviv University, and the utilization of these tools in archaeological investigations has gained popularity only in recent years.
The true innovation of this experiment lies not only in the chemical analysis but also in the researchers’ ability to identify the specific area and even the exact stone from which the flint originated. Dr. Ben Dor shed light on their method, stating, “We developed a dedicated algorithm consisting of several computational steps, coupled with machine learning models. By inputting information about the hand axes into these models, we were able to predict their provenance.”
With further advancements in technology, it may even become possible to determine the precise stones employed in the creation of these hand axes through flint knapping, a technique involving the carving of stone tools from flint rock. The researchers amassed approximately 150 rock samples from the vicinity of the two archaeological sites and employed their algorithm to determine that the flint most likely originated from the Dishon streambed, approximately 20 kilometers (12.5 miles) away.
Over the past year and a half, as the researchers have continued to utilize mass spectrometry in conjunction with their algorithm, the accuracy of their results has shown marked improvement. Finkel expressed enthusiasm about the ongoing progress, stating, “As we add more and more examples of flint into our machine learning models, the accuracy of the predictions continues to improve.“
Archaeologists have also collaborated with the research team by providing rock samples from various locations across Israel, thereby contributing to the development of an extensive database. Ultimately, this comprehensive repository of information may unveil intricate details about trade routes and collaboration during ancient times that were previously shrouded in mystery.
Finkel emphasized the pivotal role of this cutting-edge methodology, affirming, “This represents the forefront of mathematical applications in archaeology. I firmly believe that the archaeological community will increasingly adopt this method of comparing archaeological artifacts to their raw material sources, as it represents the most advanced statistical capability available today.”
He also highlighted the growing interest and engagement from fellow archaeologists, remarking, “People are now reaching out to me with items for analysis and inviting me to excavations, and our database is constantly expanding.“
‘Sometimes you have to sacrifice for answers.’
Traditionally, the prevailing notion regarding prehistoric tool creation was that Homo Erectus chanced upon flint stones during routine activities such as fetching water or hunting. However, Finkel revealed that this research challenges this long-standing belief, stating, “What we have now shown is that 750,000 years ago, humans were preplanning their activities and investing significant effort into expedition groups dedicated to sourcing the appropriate materials. This undertaking likely spanned several days.”
This process likely entailed a minimum three-day journey, including one day dedicated to reaching the excavation site, another day spent crafting the flint pieces into hand axes (a task predominantly performed at the Dishon site), and a final day of return travel.
The sheer volume of discarded stone chips found at the Dishon site, estimated to be tens of thousands of years old, provides evidence of the site’s prolonged utilization for creating stone tools. Finkel described the excavation of a single discard pile a few years ago, unearthing a quarter of a million flint chips weighing roughly 20 tons. Similar piles of comparable size are scattered throughout Dishon.
This extensive evidence indicates the transmission of knowledge from one generation to another, offering insights into intricate social patterns and communication dynamics among ancient humans. Archaeologists have discovered approximately 3,500 hand axes at Ma’ayan Barukh, with hundreds more uncovered at Gesher Banot Yaakov. The Upper Galilee Museum of Prehistory at Kibbutz Ma’ayan Barukh showcases thousands of these hand axes to the public. Previous archaeological discoveries at Ma’ayan Barukh included remnants of hunted elephants, further corroborating the hypothesis that early humans organized complex expeditions to gather resources and engage in group hunting activities.
One of the challenges faced during this research was the necessity to sacrifice portions of the hand axes for accurate chemical analysis, which involved using approximately 30 to 50 grams of each artifact for mass spectrometry testing. Finkel recounted the difficulty faced by Dr. Gonen Sharon from Tel Hai, who performed the delicate task of breaking off these fragments, stating, “You can see from the photographs just how exquisite these hand axes are. However, sometimes, in order to obtain answers, sacrifices must be made.“
Conclusion:
This groundbreaking research sheds light on the impressive planning capabilities and knowledge transfer among early humans. The ability to determine the exact source of the flint used in ancient tools provides valuable insights into prehistoric trade routes and collaboration. This discovery has significant implications for the archaeological community and highlights the increasing role of advanced statistical techniques and AI in unraveling the mysteries of our past. Additionally, this development opens up possibilities for further research and market demand for advanced analytical tools in archaeology and related fields.
