Early Humans Crafted Stone Spheroids 1.4 Million Years Ago

[Judi Lynn]

By
Nisha Zahid
September 15, 2023



Stone spheroids hint at the astonishing craftsmanship and cognitive abilities of early humans. Credit: Linda De Volder / Flickr / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0


Roughly 1.4 million years ago, our distant human ancestors in the Middle East created stone spheroids with a unique purpose, according to a recent study. This discovery reveals that early humans, such as Homo erectus, had a desire to make these stones perfectly round. This marks the earliest evidence we have of such careful planning.

These intentionally round stones might have had some advantages over naturally shaped ones found in nature. Antoine Muller, an archaeologist from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the lead researcher of the study suggests that these specially crafted stones might have offered some practical benefits. He further said, “Their tendency to become more spherical as they are made suggests a preference for symmetry and an appreciation of geometry.”

Discovery of stone spheroids
Archaeologists have discovered hundreds of these stone spheroids in various parts of the world, including Africa, Asia, and Europe. These peculiar objects are typically crafted from materials like limestone or sandstone.

They come in a range of sizes, with the smallest being just an inch wide—about the size of a walnut—while most measure between three to four inches in diameter, similar to an orange.
These spherical stones have been found primarily at sites where ancient people made tools from stone. Some experts believe that these spheroids served as essential “hammerstones.”

More:
https://greekreporter.com/2023/09/15/early-humans-crafted-stone-spheroids-million-years-ago/