Early Humans Shifted to Lighter Stone Tools

For more than a million years, early humans in the Levant region relied on hefty tools, such as large handaxes and stone balls, for crucial tasks like processing animal carcasses. However, around 200,000 years ago, these cumbersome tools began to vanish from the fossil record, making way for a greater variety of lighter implements.

This transformation marked a pivotal shift in toolmaking, as the focus transitioned to blades, flakes, and specialized scrapers, enhancing efficiency and adaptability in their daily activities.