A recent study published in the journal Nature suggests that stone tools unearthed in western Ukraine could possibly be the earliest indication of human occupation in Europe.

Archaeologists dug up chipped stones made from volcanic rock in Korolevo during the 1970s. They utilized innovative techniques to determine that the sedimentary rock layers surrounding the tools are over 1 million years old.

Mads Faurschou Knudsen, a geophysicist at Aarhus University in Denmark and co-author of the new study, stated that this is the most ancient proof of humans in Europe with a known date.

According to him, it is uncertain which early human ancestors created the tools, but it is possible that it was Homo erectus, the first species to walk upright and acquire the ability to use fire.

An archaeologist from the Czech Academy of Sciences and co-author, Roman Garba, stated that without fossil evidence, we cannot confirm anything.

He stated that the chipped stone tools were most probably utilized for slicing meat and possibly scraping animal hides.

According to the experts, the tools could potentially date back 1.4 million years, however, other specialists argue that the research method indicates they are likely around 1 million years old. This places them in a similar time frame as other ancient tools found in Spain.

According to Rick Potts, the director of the Smithsonian Institution’s Human Origins Program, the earliest stone tools of this kind were discovered in eastern Africa and have been determined to be 2.8 million years old.

The significance of the Ukraine site lies in the fact that it is the earliest known site in this northern region. This indicates that the early humans who migrated from Africa with these tools were capable of adapting and thriving in various environments.

According to Potts, humans who used ancient stone tools were skilled at adapting to various environments, including the warm climate of Iberia (Spain) and the cold temperatures of Ukraine, showcasing impressive flexibility.

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The Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group provides assistance to The Associated Press Health and Science Department. The AP is fully responsible for the content of their work.

Source: wral.com