Archeological evidence has indicated that early humans fabricated tools during the Middle Paleolithic period in Europe and Africa. East Asia, during that same time, was considered less advanced. A new finding demonstrates that we need to adjust our conception of when and where tools were first made and used.
Researchers report the discovery of the “Quina technological system” — essentially tools for making tools, with various kinds of stone chips at its core — in southwest China, dating back to about 50,000 years to 60,000 years ago, according to an article in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Similar artifacts have been found in Europe dating back to about the same time period.
“This is a big upset to the way we think about that part of the world in that period of time,” Ben Marwick, co-author and University of Washington archeologist, said in a press release. “It ...
