Ancient stone tool found in Turkey - and its discovery suggests early humans entered Europe much ear

Ancient stone tool found in Turkey - and its discovery suggests early humans entered Europe much earlier than first thought
By Richard Gray
Published: 13:54 EST, 23 December 2014 | Updated: 13:55 EST, 23 December 2014



The earliest human remains to be discovered so far in Europe are 1.2 million-year-old bone fragments from the extinct Homo antecessor at Atapuerca, Spain. However, the discovery of stone tools in western Turkey could mean that another species, Homo erectus, whose remains have been found at sites nearby, could have also moved into Europe at around the same time.

Researchers from Royal Holloway University of London, now believe the discovery of the stone tool supports claims that Anatolia was occupied by these human ancestors 1.2 million years ago.
Professor Danielle Schreve, from the department of geography, said: 'This discovery is critical for establishing the timing and route of early human dispersal into Europe.

'Our research suggests the flake is the earliest securely-dated artefact from Turkey ever recorded and was dropped on the floodplain by an early hominin well over a million years ago.

'The dating of the flake suggests that the maker would have been Homo erectus, which is widely believed to have evolved in Africa and then spread into Eurasia by 2 million years.

More:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2885370/Ancient-stone-tool-Turkey-discovery-suggests-early-humans-entered-Europe-earlier-thought.html#ixzz3NPjEJwoI