Discovery of Europe’s Oldest Stone Tools Made by Homo Erectus in Hungarian Village
A groundbreaking archaeological discovery has recently been made near King’s House, revealing Europe’s oldest stone tools made by Erect Man. Researchers estimate that these tools date back to 1.4 million years ago, pushing back the timeline of tool-using human communities in Europe.
The Institute of Nuclear Physics and Archaeology of the Czech Academy of Sciences led a team of researchers in uncovering these primitive man-made stone tools in the King’s House area. The age of these tools surpasses previously known artifacts by 200,000 to 300,000 years, with the discovery hinting at the presence of early human communities on the continent.
While no direct human remains were found at the site, the technique used to create these tools aligns with the characteristics of Erect Man, an extinct archaic human species. This species, which left Africa two million years ago, is believed to have migrated to Europe from the East. The King’s House discovery reinforces this hypothesis and adds to the understanding of early human migration patterns.
Climate likely played a crucial role in the migration of Erect Man to Europe, with researchers linking their movement to interglacial warm periods along the Danube. By analyzing climate models and pollen data, the researchers have pieced together the probable routes taken by early humans, emphasizing the impact of climate and geography on human expansion.
Királyháza, the settlement near the discovery site, has a storied history, having served as a holiday retreat for Hungarian queens in the Middle Ages. The area has seen various historical events, from being ravaged by invaders to being resettled by different ethnic groups over the centuries.
This discovery not only sheds light on the lifestyle and abilities of Erect Man, who was skilled in using fire and hunting, but also provides valuable insights into the European phase of human evolution. By refining dating methods and analyzing the artifacts more accurately, researchers hope to paint a clearer picture of human evolution and migration in prehistoric Europe.
