Human toolmaking evolved from creating simple stone tools two million years ago to making more complex hand axes 500,000 years ago. Archaeologists disagree about why it took so long for early humans to make the hand axe. Was it due to poor hand co-ordination or because they 1
intelligence?
To answer that question, a craftsman was 2
to a brain scanner by scientists. He wore special gloves with sensors in order to 3
arm and hand movements while he was copying simple and more advanced stone tools. The results showed that making a hand axe was 4
no harder than making simpler tools. This 5
that early humans were not limited by their manual ability.
The scan also showed particular activity on the right side of the brain, the region which is also 6
in language processing, when the craftsman 7
to making the more advanced tools. This 8
the idea that toolmaking and language, both requiring highly-developed thought, may have evolved at roughly the same time.