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Hammer made of elephant bone reveals tool-making skills of early humans

Fragment of elephant bone believed to be a ancient tool The Trustees of The Natural History Museum, London

Initially mistaken for a bone fragment, new research has found that this elephant bone hammer was actually carefully shaped to sharpen other tools

Scientists believe that recent analysis of a find from the 1970's can offer us insights into the lives of ancient humans.

The find, a hammer made of elephant bone, is thought to be one of the world's oldest tools.

Discovered in Boxgrove, West Sussex, the ancient hammer is dated to 480,000 years ago.

And, now the ancient item is helping to reshape our understanding of Europe's early inhabitants.

Where was the ancient tool found?

Archaeologists at the dig site in 1995University College London/Natural History Museum

Archaeologists at the site in 1995

The hammer was discovered by archeologists during the 1970s at a dig site in Boxgrove, West Sussex.

The site quickly became one of the most important places in the world for scientists and historians to discover how ancient humans lived half a million years ago.

When it was originally found the tool was believed to be a random fragment of elephant bone.

However, researchers from University College London (UCL) and the Natural History Museum now say the piece of bone has marks that indicate it was "intentionally shaped" for use as a tool.

What does it tell us?

Close up of some of the marks on the boneNatural History Museum

Archaeologists believe distinctive marks show the bone was used as a tool

Scientist say that it is an extraordinarily rare tool that had been carefully shaped from a thick layer of bone.

They say it suggests that the people who used it half a million years ago recognised the benefits of elephant bone and then made it into tools they could carry around.

Dr Silvia Bello, one of the National History Museum's human evolution researchers, said:

"This is a really special insight into their lives. It shows that these ancient humans were capable of planning ahead and weren't just grabbing what came to hand."