Archaeologists have uncovered the world's oldest known bone tools in Tanzania's Olduvai Gorge, dating back 1.5 million years, pushing back the timeline of sophisticated bone tool use by approximately one million years [1][2].

The discovery, published March 5, 2025, in the journal Nature, consists of 27 carefully crafted tools made primarily from elephant and hippopotamus limb bones. The largest specimens measure up to 15 inches (38 centimeters) in length [3].

'This expansion of technological potential indicates advances in the cognitive abilities and mental structures of these hominins,' said lead researcher Dr. Ignacio de la Torre from the Spanish National Research Council [1].

The tools show evidence of sophisticated manufacturing techniques previously only associated with stone tool production. Researchers found clear signs that the bones were systematically shaped using stone implements to create sharp edges and points [2].

Key features of the tools include:- Elephant bone tools: 8.6 to 15 inches long, 3.1 to 6 inches wide- Hippopotamus bone tools: 7 to 12 inches long, 2.3 to 3.1 inches wide- Single serrated edges with sharpened points [1][3]

While the specific hominin species responsible for creating these tools remains unknown, the site was known to be inhabited by both Homo erectus and Paranthropus boisei during this period [4].

The discovery coincides with a major technological transition period, marking the shift from the Oldowan to the Acheulean age of tool manufacturing. This finding suggests that early humans were more cognitively advanced than previously believed, capable of transferring stone-working skills to bone materials [2].