Animal Fat Residue Detected on 500,000 Year Old Tools

Angela

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This is the link to the article in Archaeology Today:
http://www.archaeology.org/news/3098-150319-israel-elephant-residue

The fat was found on flint tools located near a 500,000 year old elephant rib. The researchers are speculating that this would be Homo Erectus.

I guess I would need to see how carefully the site was excavated, i.e.is it possible the tools were a later deposit. They also don't mention any testing of the fat. Would they be able to tell from which animal the fat came?

If this is legit, it's amazing.
 
I wonder why they assume it was homo erectus.
In that area homo Palestinensis lived at that time, a descendant of homo heidelbergiensis who was also ancestral to Neanderthal.
Neanderthal killed mammoths, I wouldn't be surprised if these guys killed elephants. It certainly took some bravery, good teamwork and some solid spears, but I guess elephants were easier to chase than those faster running animals. It seems the bushmen in Africa hunted elephants. They almost let themselves be overrun by the elephant and then they plant their spear in the weak belly.
On the other hand it could also be that these guys were just scavengers ...
 

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