Archaeologists Found 11,500-Year-Old Tools That Reveal an Incredible Human Adventure

[Judi Lynn]

Story by Emma Frederickson • 3w • 3 min read

Researchers discovered tools dating as far back as 11,500 years.

The tools could be evidence of the earliest human settlement in Scotland.

Nomads likely crossed into the Isle of Skye via Doggerland—an area that is now covered by the North Sea.

Humans love convenience, and that's a love as old as time (well, maybe that’s a stretch).

The oldest tools discovered thus far date back to our early ancestors, around 2.6 million years ago. While these tools were rudimentary (often unaltered sticks and rocks found on the ground), they played a key part in the broader story of human evolution. Not only were they helpful to the early humans who used them back then, but early tools like these also serve as valuable clues for scientists today.

Case in point, a research team just found tools on the Isle of Skye which shed light on Scotland’s oldest inhabitants. Researchers dated these new-found Scottish tools back to between 11,500 and 11,000 years ago, during what is called the Late Upper Paleolithic. The “Upper” part of the Paleolithic Period is a subdivision marked by the development of more advanced tools. The discoveries mean the west coast of Scotland now represents the largest concentration of evidence proving the early presence of people in the area, according to a press release.

The oldest tools discovered thus far date back to our early ancestors, around 2.6 million years ago. While these tools were rudimentary (often unaltered sticks and rocks found on the ground), they played a key part in the broader story of human evolution. Not only were they helpful to the early humans who used them back then, but early tools like these also serve as valuable clues for scientists today.

Case in point, a research team just found tools on the Isle of Skye which shed light on Scotland’s oldest inhabitants. Researchers dated these new-found Scottish tools back to between 11,500 and 11,000 years ago, during what is called the Late Upper Paleolithic. The “Upper” part of the Paleolithic Period is a subdivision marked by the development of more advanced tools. The discoveries mean the west coast of Scotland now represents the largest concentration of evidence proving the early presence of people in the area, according to a press release.

The team consisted of researchers from universities of Leeds, Sheffield, Leeds Beckett, and Flinders in Australia. Together, they worked to reconstruct the landscape and changing sea levels of the time. They determined that nomads likely crossed into Skye when much of western Scotland was buried under ice after the Younger Dryas—a sudden cooling period that froze much of the Northern Hemisphere. Researchers theorize that the pioneers crossed via Doggerland, which is now covered by the North Sea.

More:
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/archaeologists-found-11-500-year-old-tools-that-reveal-an-incredible-human-adventure/ar-AA1EIssG

[Easterncedar]

1. Thanks, Judi Lynn

You always share the most interesting information.