The emergence of Homo sapiens in Pleistocene Africa is associated with a profound reconfiguration of technology. Symbolic expression and personal ornamentation, new tool forms, and regional technological traditions are widely recognized as the earliest indicators of complex culture and cognition in humans. Here we describe a bone tool tradition from Contrebandiers Cave on the Atlantic coast of Morocco, dated between 120,000–90,000 years ago. The bone tools were produced for different activities, including likely leather and fur working, and were found in association with carnivore remains that were possibly skinned for fur. A cetacean tooth tip bears what is likely a combination of anthropogenic and non-anthropogenic modification and shows the use of a marine mammal tooth by early humans. The evidence from Contrebandiers Cave demonstrates that the pan-African emergence of complex culture included the use of multiple and diverse materials for specialized tool manufacture.
CMG releases list of top 10 intl archaeological discoveries of 2021 cgtn.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from cgtn.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Archaeology Magazine has announced its much anticipated top ten discoveries for 2021, including 23,000-year-old footprints and the world's oldest artwork.
A small slave badge engraved with the year 1853 that was discovered in Charleston, South Carolina earlier this year is one of Archaeology Magazine s top 10 discoveries in 2021.