Achievement

Richmond and colleagues from Kenya, South Africa, UK, and the US discovered the oldest archeological site bearing associated tools and butchered animals. The finding provided direct evidence that at 1.95 million years ago, hominins enjoyed early access to animal carcasses and butchered an unexpectedly wide range of animals, with mammals ranging in size from hippopotamus to small antelopes. Notably, butchery cut-marks were also found on aquatic animals, such as crocodiles, turtles, and catfish, that are rich in nutrients that promote brain development. This study was published in PNAS (2010, 107: 10002-10007) and featured with a Perspective piece in PNAS (Steele, 2010, 107).