“Mind-Blowing” indeed is a conclusion that human ancestors made and used obsidian tools half a million years previous to accepted thought. Becky Ferreira has the summary and a link to the academic paper announcing this development. If you’ve not read Laura Geggel’s list of 10 Amazing Things We Learned about Our Human Ancestors in 2022, you should. Several of these items were at least “new” to us. Also “new” is Ruth Schuster’s announcement that Archaeologists Report Collection of Animal Skulls by Neanderthals in Spain. It’s another excellent article combining traditional archaeology, modern tools and techniques, and good ol’ informed speculation. Speaking of, come to Philip Coppens’ Old Europe. Even more recent, yet still remote, eras hide their mysteries and invite theorizing challenging that of the very Old Archaeological Guard. (WM)
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