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Early Human Tools
Working in Groups
Hunting Tools
Early hunter-gatherers most likely began to work together in social
groups over time. Scientists have found evidence all over the world that
support this belief
Even in groups, hunting could be very dangerous. Early humans used
hunting tools like spears and knives. These tools worked well when the
hunters could get close to the animals, but were not very effective
from a distance. The bow and arrow was not invented for thousands
of years.
Kanjera is an area in western Kenya. In Kanjera, scientists found stone
tools made with rocks that were not found in the immediate area, but
from rocks that could be found seven miles away. This suggests that
groups carried the rocks to Kanjera to create the tools.
A hearth is a stone fireplace. Hearths were used for cooking food. They
also provided warmth and safety. Hearths that are over 800,000 years
old have been found in the Middle East. This evidence suggests that
early humans gathered together at hearths for food and comfort.
Scientists have also found evidence that early people hunted together
and shared shelters. In France, large shelters over 50 feet long have
been found from over 400,000 years ago. This suggests that large groups
lived together.
Scientists also believe that early hunter-gatherers took care of other
members of their groups. There is strong evidence that people cared for
the sick and the old. One example is the Old Man of La Chapelle.
Scientists found a skeleton in France that showed a man about 30 years
old who had no teeth. He probably could not have survived without help
from others.
Scientists also have evidence that early humans buried their dead
carefully. One grave was found in Legar Velho in Portugal. The body of a
child was found buried with pine branches, bracelets, and decorated
shells. In Russia and Italy, stone tools have been found in graves. These
items suggest that people believed in life after death.
Living together in groups was also important for hunting. To learn more
about how early humans hunted, scientists study the remains found in
caves and around ancient campsites. Animal bones with marks and holes
provide clues. They suggest that hunters use the tools to kill and cut up
animals. The bones also help scientist identify the types of animals that
were hunted. For instance, large amounts of reindeer and mammoth
bones at the campsites suggest that the people hunted these animals.
These large animals were probably common in the area and also
important because they could provide a lot of meat with one kill. Also,
other parts of the animal were used. Animal skins were used to make
clothing and blankets. Bones were used to make weapons and tools.
After some time, humans discovered that fire could be used as an
important hunting too. There is evidence that groups of early humans
in Europe used fire to drive large animals into swamps or off of steep
cliffs. This was an advantage for humans because they were less likely
to get injured trying to kill an animal. Of course, fire had other
purposes too. It provided warmth and a way to cook. Many times
meals would turn into social gatherings. Fire also provided protection
from animals and other humans who could be enemies.
Making Tools
The first tools were very simple. They were spears and stone blades.
Spears have been found with the earliest human remains. The first
examples were simple sticks made with sharp points. Then people
used fire to make the sticks harder. Later, people figured out that they
could attach a stone blade to the end of the stick. The improvement of
tools shows us the development in human thinking. People were able
to solve problems because their large brains allowed for increased
cognitive ability.
Stone blades appeared in the Paleolithic Age, around 40,000 years
ago. Stone blades continued to improve for the next 10,000 years. The
native people of North America were very good at making stone
blades. Flint and obsidian were the most common stones used to
create these sharp blades. Stone chisels allowed early humans to cut
and carve bones into tools.
Long thin pieces of bone were carved out to form needles. These
needles were used to make better clothing. Larger pieces of bone
were made into sharp hooks. These could be used for hunting and
fishing. Early humans used chisels to carve the horns of mammoths
and other animals into wedge-shaped tools. These wedge-shaped
tools were ideal for knives and spears.
The improvement of tools shows the different way hunter-gatherers
were getting smarter. These new tools were designed for special
purposes. The tools also were made in very similar ways throughout
many areas. This shows that information was shared across groups.