Early Homo erectus lived at high altitudes and produced both Oldowan and Acheulean tools

• DOI: 10.1126/science.add9115
• Publication Date: 2023-10-12T18:00:43Z
• Authors: Margherita Mussi; Matthew M. Skinner; Rita T. Melis; Joaquín Panera; Susana Rubio-Jara; Thomas W. Davies; Denis Geraads; Hervé Bocherens; Giuseppe Briatico; Adeline Le Cabec; Jean-Jacques Hublin; Agness Gidna; Raymonde Bonnefille; Luca Di Bianco; Eduardo Méndez-Qu...
• Keywords: Homo erectus; Acheulean; Olduvai Gorge; Assemblage (archaeology); Early Pleistocene; Paleoanthropology; Hominidae; Faunal assemblage

In Africa, the scarcity of hominin remains found in direct association with stone tools has hindered attempts to link Homo habilis and erectus particular lithic industries. The infant mandible discovered level E at Garba IV (Melka Kunture) on highlands Ethiopia is critical this issue due its an Oldowan industry. Here, we use synchrotron imaging examine internal morphology unerupted permanent dentition confirm identification as erectus. Additionally, utilize new palaeomagnetic ages show that (i) ca. 2 million-years-old, represents one earliest fossils, (ii) overlying D, 1.95 contains known Acheulean assemblage.