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The Acheulean handaxe was the most common tool of early humans, but we still don’t know what the heck they used it for. LEARN MORE ************** To learn more about this topic, start your googling with these keywords: - Acheulean handaxe: large, chipped stone objects which represent the oldest, most common, and longest-used formally-shaped working tool in human history. - Microscopy: the technical field of using microscopes to view samples & objects that cannot be seen with the unaided eye. - Microlith: small stone tool usually made of flint or chert and typically a centimeter or so in length and half a centimeter wide. SUPPORT MINUTEEARTH ************************** If you like what we do, you can help us!: - Become our patron: - Our merch: - Our book: - Share this video with your friends and family - Leave us a comment (we read them!) CREDITS ********* David Goldenberg | Script Writer, Narrator and Director Lizah van der Aart | Illustration, Video Editing and Animation Nathaniel Schroeder | Music MinuteEarth is produced by Neptune Studios LLC OUR STAFF ************ Lizah van der Aart • Sarah Berman • Cameron Duke Arcadi Garcia i Rius • David Goldenberg • Melissa Hayes Alex Reich • Henry Reich • Peter Reich Ever Salazar • Leonardo Souza • Kate Yoshida OTHER CREDITS ***************** “Acheulean handaxe“ photo by Mary Harrsch “Obsidian Microlith“ photo by the Smithsonian :nmnhanthropology_8132133 OUR LINKS ************ TikTok | @minuteearth Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Website | Apple Podcasts| REFERENCES ************** Rodriguez, Alice. (2023). Personal Communication. Department of Anthropology, NYU. Iovita, Radu. (2023). Personal Communication. Department of Anthropology, NYU. Chang, M. (2009). The Case Against Sexual Selection as an Explanation of Handaxe Morphology. Paleoanthropology. Welsh, J. (2022). Tools May Have Been First Money. Live Science. Key, A J. M., Proffitt, T, Stefani, Elena and Lycett, Stephen J. (2016) Looking at handaxes from another angle: Assessing the ergonomic and functional importance of edge form in Acheulean bifaces. Journal of Anthropological Archaeology, 44 (Part A). pp. 43-55. et al. Jul_30_2016_Handaxe edge Iovita, R., McPherron, S.P., 2011. The handaxe reloaded: A morphometric reassessment of Acheulian and Middle Paleolithic handaxes. Journal of Human Evolution 61, 61–74. Retrieved from: Iovita, R., Tuvi-Arad, I., Moncel, ., Despriée, J., Voinchet, P., Bahain, ., 2017. High handaxe symmetry at the beginning of the European Acheulian: The data from la Noira (France) in context. PLOS ONE 12, e0177063. Retrieved from: Wayman. J.L. (2010) Foot Cutters: A New Hypothesis for the Function of Acheulian Bifaces and Related Lithics, Lithic Technology, 35:2, 171-194, Retrieved from: Sorensen, A.C., Claud, E. & Soressi, M. Neandertal fire-making technology inferred from microwear analysis. Sci Rep 8, 10065 (2018). Aranda, V. et al. (2012) Experimental Program for the Detection of Use Wear in Quartzite. International Conference on Use-Wear Analysis: Use-Wear 2012. Iovita, R., Sano, K. (Eds.), 2016. Multidisciplinary approaches to the study of Stone Age weaponry, Vertebrate Paleobiology and Paleoanthropology. Springer Netherlands, Dordrecht. M. Dominguez- Rodrigo, J. Serrallonga, J. Juan-Tresserras, L. Alcala, L. Luque. (2001). Woodworking activities by early humans: a plant residue analysis on Acheulian stone tools from Peninj (Tanzania), Journal of Human Evolution, Volume 40, Issue 4.
