Archaeologists have identified a prehistoric hammer made from elephant bone that dates back almost 500,000 years. The tool was recovered from the Boxgrove site in southern England and is the oldest known elephant bone implement discovered in Europe.
Researchers from UCL and the Natural History Museum, London examined the artifact. Their analysis, published in Science Advances, shows that early Neanderthals or Homo heidelbergensis likely created it.
The object measures about 11 centimeters long, six centimeters wide and three centimeters thick. It was first recovered in the early 1990s but only recently recognized as a tool after detailed study with 3D scanning and electron microscopes.
Lead author Simon Parfitt said the find demonstrates the ingenuity of ancient ancestors. They used the dense bone as a retoucher to sharpen stone handaxes by striking off small flakes.
Co-author Silvia Bello noted that collecting and shaping the rare material indicates advanced planning and resourcefulness. The bone was probably still fresh when it was worked.