Excavations at Tabun’s Cave in the western Carmel area have revealed the oldest evidence of hominins. [primate species regarded as human, directly ancestral to humans, or very closely related to humans] using grinding tools.
They found traces of behavior with mechanical changes similar to those recorded on grinding machines. However, the artifact comes from the early layers of the late Paleolithic Lower Acheulo-Yabrudian complex (ca. 350 ka), predicting any other evidence for erosion or abrasion by 150,000 years and namely humans (homo sapiens).
Cobble used by ancient prime ministers as a grinding tool found in Tabun Cave
(Photo: Dr. Iris Groman-Yaroslavsky)
The device was excavated from a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Carmel Mountain Range in the 1960s but its purpose has not been made clear recently following a study by a professor at the University of Haifa. Ron Shimelmitz, Dr. Groman-Yaroslavsky Journal, Prof. Mina Weinstein-Evron and Prof. Danny Rosenberg.
“This discovery from Tabun’s Cave shows that hominins processed various materials by abrasion about 350,000 years ago,” the researchers said.
The erosion marks are distinctive on the cobblestone
(Photo: Dr. Iris Groman-Yaroslavsky)
“This emerging technology is accompanied by additional behavioral changes recently identified… reflecting the growing and diversifying capabilities of old hominins to use technology to shape on their environment. “
Scientists performed a detailed wear-and-tear analysis of the device and implemented an experimental program to see if the findings on the artifact could be deliberately turned into human action, yielding good results. for the hypothesis of meaningful human use.
“We found a lot of things similar to the signs of abrasion obtained as a result of grinding animal skin, from this we attended that the ancient stone was used to grind soft materials, although we do not yet know exactly what , “said Dr. Groman-Yaroslavsky.
The cave in which the machine was found
(Photo: Dr. Ron shimelmitz)
The researchers argued that the meaning and innovation of early abrading technology is that it marks a new method of handling raw materials – one that is different from other methods of use observed among earlier hominins or primates and other animals.
This emerging technology is coupled with additional behavioral changes recently identified and introduced to the Middle Pleistocene, revealing the growing and multiplying capabilities of old hominins to use technology to shape their environment.