Anatolia’s oldest man-made tool found

MANİSA

The small stone-cutter was made by people who lived 1.240-1.170 million years ago.

Scientific researchers in the western province of Manisa’s Kula district have unearthed the oldest man-made tool in Anatolia, a stone-cutter made of quartzite that dates back to 1.2 million years ago. Harran University announced the discovery on its Facebook page.

The data obtained through geomorphologic and geological research and examinations carried out in Kula since 2001 by British and Dutch academics, including Harran University academic Professor Tuncer Demir, shows that European people migrated from Anatolia.

The international research group coincidentally found the tool, which was made of quartzite, which under further examination was found to have been made by people who lived 1.240-1.170 million years ago.  

“The importance of this tool comes from the period in which it was made. The tool is made of a five-centimeter-long quartzite stone. Paleontologists examining the shapes and traces on the tool revealed that it was used by humans. This is the oldest tool made and used by people in Anatolia,” said Demir, adding that in accordance with regulations, they returned the tool in its original place after photographing and documenting it.