Archeologists know early humans used stone to make tools long before the time of Homo sapiens. But a new discovery out this week in <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-08652-5">Nature</a> suggests early humans in eastern Africa were also using animal bones – one million years earlier than researchers previously thought. The finding suggests that these early humans were intentionally shaping animal materials – like elephant and hippopotamus bones – to make tools and that it could indicate advancements in early human cognition. Want more on early human history? Email us at shortwave@npr.org. Listen to Short Wave on <a href="https://n.pr/3HOQKeK">Spotify</a>, <a href="https://n.pr/3WA9vqh">Apple Podcasts</a> and <a href="https://n.pr/3Vi9Xsm">Google Podcasts</a>. Learn more about sponsor message choices: <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a> <a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">NPR Privacy Policy</a>

Podurama

Home

Trending

Personal

Your Podcasts

New Episodes

My Files

Favourite Episodes

Tags (Folders)

Recently Played

Bookmarks

Followed Playlists

Stone Age To Bone Age?

Short Wave

AI Chapters

AI Insights

Reviews