Giant handaxes suggest that different groups of early humans coexisted in ancient Europe

Even our earliest human ancestors made and used technology - something we can look back on thanks to the lasting nature of stone tools.

An exceptionally high density of giant handaxes dated to 200,000-300,000 years ago has been uncovered at an archaeological site in Galicia, northwest Spain. The findings are documented in a new article published by our international research team of archaeologists and dating specialists.

The discovery of these handaxes suggests that alternative types of stone tool technologies were simultaneously being used by different populations in this area – supporting the idea that a prehistoric “Game of Thrones” scenario existed as Neanderthals emerged in Europe.

Read the full story on The Conversation

Article originally published on The Conversation, by Martina Demuro, Lee Arnold and Mathieu Duval.

_{Acheulean tools in their primary position at Porto Maior, Spain.
Image credit: Eduardo Mendez-Quintas (CC BY 4.0)}