Oldest Modified Ivory Artefacts Found in Ukraine Rewrite Human Innovation Timeline!

A groundbreaking discovery in Ukraine has pushed back the timeline of human technological creativity by almost 300,000 years. Archaeologists have unearthed the oldest known deliberately modified ivory artefacts, shedding light on the ingenuity and behaviour of early hominins. These findings, made at the Lower Palaeolithic site of Medzhibozh A in western Ukraine, reveal that early humans were experimenting with materials and creating tools in ways that were previously thought to be far beyond their capabilities.

Rewriting the History of Human Innovation

The recent discovery, detailed in a study by Dr. Vadim Stepanchuk and Dr. Oleksandr O. Naumenko in the International Journal of Osteoarchaeology, shows that early hominins were using mammoth ivory to craft tools as far back as 400,000 years ago. This is a significant leap forward in understanding human technological evolution, as the oldest previously known ivory tools dated back just 120,000 years.

The site of Medzhibozh A, located along the Southern Bug River near the town of Medzhybizh, was discovered in 2011 and excavated intermittently until 2018. The layers at the site cover a broad span of the Pleistocene epoch, and the ivory tools found there were dated to Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 11, around 400,000 years ago. Using advanced methods like electron spin resonance (ESR) and other geological analyses, researchers pinpointed the age of these findings.

Photo Credit: José-Manuel Benito

Sophisticated Techniques and Unusual Materials

Among the 24 small fragments of mammoth ivory recovered from the site, 11 showed clear signs of human modification. The artefacts displayed complex techniques typically reserved for stone tool production, including bipolar-on-anvil knapping, edge trimming, and flake removal. Some of the fragments appeared to have been deliberately shaped into tools, with one core fragment and another pointed tool offering strong evidence of purposeful crafting.

Despite the evidence of deliberate shaping, the practicality of ivory as a tool material raises some questions. Ivory, with a Mohs hardness of 2–4, is much softer than materials like flint or quartz, which are typically used to make durable tools. This softness makes ivory less effective for practical applications, leading some researchers to suggest that these items might not have been created purely for functional use.

Experimentation or Social Learning?

Dr. Stepanchuk speculates that these ivory tools might have been created either due to a lack of quality stone in the region or as an experiment with new materials. It’s also possible that some of the objects were crafted as practice pieces, perhaps to teach younger members of the group tool-making techniques.

This discovery provides a fascinating glimpse into the cognitive abilities of early humans, likely an extinct hominin species. Not only were these individuals experimenting with new materials, but they may have been engaging in social learning behaviours, such as teaching and imitation. This suggests a higher level of cognitive sophistication than previously thought, indicating that early hominins may have been far more advanced than we give them credit for.

A Leap Forward in Understanding Human Evolution

While the scientists acknowledge some uncertainties, such as the possibility of misdating or natural modifications of the ivory, the complexity and consistency of the tool-making techniques strongly suggest that the tools were intentionally crafted by humans. This discovery adds an exciting new chapter to our understanding of early human culture and technology, offering evidence of a more creative and socially complex species than previously imagined.