Stone tools have been made by humans and their ancestors for millions of years. For archaeologists these rocky remnants – lithic artefacts and flakes – are of key importance.
They are among the most common findings in archaeological excavations because of their high preservation potential.
Worldwide, numerical dating of these lithic artefacts, especially when they occur as surface findings, remains a major challenge. Usually, stone tools cannot be dated directly, but only when they are embedded in sediment layers together with, for example, organic material. [Read more…] about Oldest human traces from the southern Tibetan Plateau in a new light