Archaeologists have identified a prehistoric hammer made from elephant bone that dates to nearly 500,000 years ago, according to ScienceDaily. The artifact was found in southern England and is now considered the oldest known elephant bone tool ever discovered in Europe.
Researchers from UCL and the Natural History Museum in London studied the rare object and published their findings in Science Advances. They believe it was likely made by early Neanderthals or Homo heidelbergensis.
The tool was not used as a heavy hammer. Instead, scientists say it likely served as a softer striking implement for repairing and sharpening stone handaxes and other cutting tools after their edges wore down.
The object came from Boxgrove, an archaeological site near Chichester in West Sussex, where many flint, bone and antler tools have been found. Researchers used 3D scanning and electron microscopes to identify marks, impact damage and tiny flint pieces lodged in the surface, all of which suggest repeated use as a tool.
Scientists say the discovery expands what is known about elephant bone technology in Europe and shows that early humans in Britain were carefully choosing rare materials for specialized tasks hundreds of thousands of years ago.
