Stone Toolmaking May Not Have Required Cultural Transmission

Modern humans around the world have evolved to adapt to unique cultures: they speak different native languages, wear diverse clothing, celebrate varying traditions and craft distinct artifacts. These cultures are cumulative in nature — something that's passed on for generations, resulting in unique variations over time. It's long been assumed that the practice of accumulating culture and passing it down the line started some 2.6 million years ago, when humans first learned the skills to sharpen stones for toolmaking.