Ancient Ivory Tools Unearthed in Ukraine

Archaeological discoveries in Ukraine have significantly altered our understanding of early human technology. A recent study published in the International Journal of Osteoarchaeology details the unearthing of ivory fragments dating back 400,000 years. These fragments were found at the Medzhibozh A site, located near the Southern Bug River.

Details of the Discovery

Initially, the research team, led by Vadim Stepanchuk, believed the 24 fragments to be animal remains. However, subsequent laboratory analysis revealed that eleven of these pieces showed signs of deliberate shaping. Six fragments exhibited evidence of knapping, while three others were altered using a bipolar-on-anvil method.

Electronic Spin Resonance (ESR), along with geographical and faunal analyses, corroborated the age of the artifacts. This evidence places the use of ivory tools in this region much earlier than previously thought.

Implications of the Find

Vadim Stepanchuk suggests that the use of ivory, despite its lower hardness compared to stone, may have been driven by a scarcity of quality stone in the area. The creation of these tools might also reflect early experimentation and social learning.

Some items could have been produced through trial and error or as imitative behavior, potentially by children. This mimicking of adult knapping activities could have been a part of early social learning processes.