The paleoanthropologist Louis Leakey described stone tools as “fossilized human behavior.” These rocks, shaped by our human ancestors and found in archaeological sites around the world, can give us clues about how ancient people lived. Archaeologist and Leakey Foundation grantee John Shea of Stony Brook University says you can learn even more by making and using stone tools yourself.   Thanks to John Shea of Stony Brook University for sharing his work. His new book is Stone Tools in Human Evolution: Behavioral Differences among Technological Primates.   Learn more about Dr. Shea's work on his website.  

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Origin Stories is a project of The Leakey Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to funding human origins research and outreach. Support this show and the science we talk about with a tax-deductible donation. Thanks to a generous supporter, your donation will automatically be doubled!

Links

Check out the complete show notes at leakeyfoundation.org   Videos  How to make a stone tool Making a Neanderthal flint tool Making Stone Tools - Nicholas Toth of the Stone Age Institute John Shea and Alan Alda on The Human Spark   Articles Modern People Making Stone Age Tools by Leakey Foundation grantee Shelby Putt Chimpanzees and Monkeys Have Entered the Stone Age by Colin Barras

Credits

Produced by: Audrey Quinn

Editor: Julia Barton

Host and Series Producer: Meredith Johnson

Sound Design: Katie McMurran

Theme Music: Henry Nagle

Intern: Yuka Oiwa

Additional Music: Tech Toys by Lee Rosevere

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This season of Origin Stories is made possible by support from Dixon Long. Additional support for this episode comes from Bill Richards.

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