Marks on ancient fossilised bones may be CROCODILE BITES

Marks on ancient fossilised bones that were thought to prove humans were using ancient tools 3.4 million years ago could just be crocodile bites, according to new research. Researchers looking at dozens of fossilised mammal bones from Ethiopia's Middle Awash site reveal animal bite marks could have been misinterpreted as evidence of tool use. PIctured is one fossil from 2.5 million years ago Researchers led by the University of Tübingen analysed these mammal bones along with 40 other fossil samples from 3.4, 4.4 and 2.5 million year old deposits from the broader region in the Awash basin of Afar Rift, Ethiopia 'Now that we know how similar some crocodile feeding traces are to traces left by stone-tool-assisted butchery, we admit it is impossible to ascertain hominid butchery', he said. Combined with contextual evidence, analysis of cuts, marks, grooves, and pits on dozens of fossil bones, researchers now believe several of the marks were likely the result of crocodile bites rather than stone tool use 'Now that we know how similar some crocodile feeding traces are to traces left by stone-tool-assisted butchery, we admit it is impossible to ascertain hominid butchery', said Dr Sahle For most archaeologists unequivocal evidence for stone tool use comes from several localities at Gona in Ethiopia and at 2.6 million years ago.