Ancient Toolmakers Navigated for Best Stone

Hominins at Gesher Benot Ya'akov in northern Israel, dating back 780,000 years, actively sought specific basalt sources for their tools. Researchers matched chemical signatures of tools to basalt flows, discovering some originated from sources now buried or eroded. The study indicates these early humans didn’t simply use whatever stone was available.

They distinguished between basalt types, selecting materials with qualities ideal for different tools like handaxes and cleavers. Giant cores consistently came from nearby sources, while some cleavers were crafted from basalt not found locally.

This selective sourcing wasn't a random event. The pattern persisted across archaeological layers spanning tens of thousands of years, suggesting a learned and transmitted tradition. Researchers believe this demonstrates early hominins possessed detailed mental maps of the landscape and an understanding of its changes.