The artefact comes from deposits dated to more than 60,000 years ago. It closely resembles thousands of bone arrowheads used by the indigenous San hunter-gatherers from the 18th to the 20th centuries.
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Articles on Human ancestors
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This is a hugely important find. It means that one of our earlier ancestors possibly originated in southern Africa.
The findings suggest that this specimen could climb and move in trees. But it may also have been able to walk on the ground. This echoes previous studies.
Given that we know humans moved across these landscapes, we wondered whether there might also be evidence of other forms of human activity on these surfaces of sand.
There's almost no place on earth that doesn't hold traces of humanity. But which routes did our ancestors follow first?
Researchers can more easily compare heated rocks from different studies and areas.
Thanks to hundreds of fossil remains found in Africa studies can explore new scenarios about how our ancestors lived and evolved.
Five major finds this year adds to our understanding of evolution and ancient life history.
Palaeontological finds offer a compelling and profound way to think about our place in nature.
A new discovery adds to our existing understanding of Homo sapiens in Africa.
Ancient indigenous people often collected fossil shells, teeth and bones that have provided critical clues about human origins.
Archaeologists have discovered the world's oldest cheese, and it reveals how our ancestor's cooking methods helped the human diet adapt.
New tools add to an emerging view of the past as a turbulent “Game of Thrones” style scenario, with distinct early human ancestors living in Eurasia before Homo sapiens arrived.
Top contributors
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Senior Researcher in Vertebrate Palaeontology, University of the Witwatersrand
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Postdoctoral fellow, University of the Witwatersrand
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Head of Department of Archaeology and History, La Trobe University
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Senior research fellow, Southern Cross University
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Associate Professor in Earth Sciences, University of Adelaide
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Professor of Evolutionary Studies, Professor of African Prehistory, University of Bergen
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Principal Investigator, SapienCE - Centre for Early Sapiens Behaviour, University of Bergen
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ARC Future Fellow, Griffith University
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Professor with Research Focus in Stone Age Archaeology, Palaeo-Research Institute, University of Johannesburg
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ARC DECRA Research Fellow, University of Adelaide
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Senior lecturer, University of Johannesburg
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Lecturer in Archaeology, University of York
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Chief Scientist of PAST, the Palaeontogical Scientific Trust, University of the Witwatersrand
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Research Associate, African Centre for Coastal Palaeoscience, Nelson Mandela University
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Postdoctor in archaeology at SapienCE, University of Bergen
