The oldest archaeological site in the world 

Start speaking a new language in 3 weeks with Babbel. 🎉 Get up to 60% OFF your subscription here ➡ go.babbel.com/t?bsc=1200m60-youtube-stefanmilo-jul-2023&btp=default&RU-vid&Influencer..stefanmilo..USA..RU-vid

Dear Stefan, your channel is easily the best on the topic of prehistoric Archaeology for how simply you put even the most complex topics, making easy to understand them even to non-expert people. I am a medieval archaeologist and I really appreciate you and what you do. Cheers from Italy!

Anyone who has knapped stone tools knows the kinds of skills needed to get workable lithics. They also know the dangers involved in making stone tools. If you're not careful, you can give yourself some really bad wounds. I'd love to see what they were using as knapping tools. It can be difficult finding really good hammer stones. Choose poorly and you get a shattering stone in your dominant hand. These hominids were skilled and experienced. Thanks for bringing this at our attention Stefan.

idk how you dont have at least a million subs by now, your content is impeccable, i love that you actually interview people instead of just citing their papers

When I was a little girl I asked my father, a scientist and artist, how arrowheads were made. We were sitting in the car waiting for my mother; he whipped out his ever present drawing pad and showed me how, illustrating as he talked. I tried to make one myself. He told me I had the right idea but the wrong materials, lol. In the 1950s he also told me I could do anything a man could do, much to my mother’s horror. Both my parents loved history and the house was full of books. My favorite book was one on evolution…much changed since then, but a good introduction during a time when it was still illegal to teach it in some states. Thanks to that lesson, I’d never question the idea that folks were making and using tools well before modern humans emerged. I find it touching that a tool was found in a Neanderthal burial…tools were labor intensive to find/make and of great value. It makes me wonder if this person excelled at what he made so was buried with the tool. Where would our early ancestors be without the ability to look at a large rock, wonder if it would be useful, remember where they could find similar rocks and, biggest wonder of all determine that rock could be used to make something also useful? This is why I stopped using the word ‘’primitive” decades ago. Where would we, even as scientists, be without wonder? This video was a delight for this old lady to watch.

Brilliant episode, Stefan. I used skip school and bunk in to the London zoo just to watch the chimpanzees especially the young ones in the nursery. The nursery had a huge glass window this was around 1968. There was a moment when one young chimpanzee put it's hands flat on the glass facing me I could see the fingerprints of the young chimp it was a revelationary moment for me from that point on I was a confirmed evolutionists. I was ten years old.

Nets and cordage were almost certainly older than pebble choppers. Gorillas weave straw, orangs make hammocks out of vines. If two relatives that split off millions of years ago make cordage, then it is very unlikely that our ancestors did not make cordage. The basket, nets, etc. likely predate any shaped stones.

I can say with confidence videos like this have changed the direction of my life. Your videos, in particular those on le principe, lucy and cave art, sent me on a frenzy of exploring anthropology. I applied to study Human Sciences at Oxford university last year (your videos featured in my personal statement) and hopefully (results day permitting) I will be begin my study there this October. I one day aspire to be putting out research and imagine myself in the place of those you interview. I appreciate you and the work you do making these topics accessible. :) Update: I got the grades to go and will leave this weekend :)

I’m a single woman living alone with my pet cat and snake, we watch your incredible videos together every night in bed cuddled up ☺️

I gained my archaeology degree in 2003 at UOA. I was fantastically lucky to have three mentors to encourage and support me. I love your insight, masterful oration and passion! Nice one bro, respect. 👍🏽

I love how you often interview people who are experts on the topic or site you are discussing. It's great to see passionate scientists get a platform to talk about their excellent work.

Stefan's channel is such a relief from the never ending stress that life has become. I love his approach too. His positivity and light hearted humor are exactly what I need right now! ❤❤❤

Its incredible the tools were made right there at Lemekwi. That means that as youre digging out these stones youre sitting quite possibility in the same spot an early human sat in 3.3 million years ago. It amazes me to think about how unnew our world is

I found this channel only a couple weeks ago but I’ve fallen completely in love ❤ absolutely amazing work!

The quality of this video blows me away, I’m studying computer science and anthropology at Boston University and your channel was one of my inspirations to study human origins.

Wow, this was so good! I had never heard Lomekwi. Fascinating. Evan Patrick Wilson's hirsute magnificence also shines brightly and inspires me almost as much as this certified banger of a video.

This is very well-edited. Thank you. So often these types of videos are just an unedited talk. Thank you for organizing it.

Love your stuff! So patient and insightful... I do miss the spoon.

Something which occurs to me (a retired geologist) is that the craftsmen have recognised certain rocks which can be knapped into tools, which cannot be done with any rock casually found. I would like to find the source outcrop of this kind of rock which they used. Would this yield more knapped tools? It would certainly show how far people would take the cobbles which they have found, and possibly barter them for other desired things. Rocks were carried for large distances across Australia for the purpose of trade. The native Australians were, until fairly recently a Stone Age culture, which seems to me disregarded by the archaeological community.

Going into second year at Uni for Archaeology and your keeping my passion alive over the summer holidays!! Great work!!

Can I just say, I really, really appreciate the subtitles you write for all your videos! They're really descriptive and humorous at times, and obviously them being hand written in the first place makes them very high quality. I'm not deaf, but I find it difficult to process multiple senses at the same time, so I always use subtitles to help me :)

I think we should start seeing this as an extremely slow process. Then it wouldn't be so surprising what those 'people' came up with. I mean, if pets can figure out that some things work better then others it's not so hard to imagine a creature figuring out that a strangely shaped stone they found by accident works better then a normal one. Then a bit later they start noticing stones falling from mountains have different shapes or even throwing away a stone after using it, falling on another stone creates one with a different shape. There will always be smarter individuals picking up these details and try to do something with that information.

Just mind blowing and full of wonder! Thanks Evan, Nicholas and Milo

The fact That you interviewed Jesus himself to make this video adds to your amazing commitment

Pretty cool that they got Gilgamesh to talk about early hominid tools

I love the Stefan includes other experts and interviews. These are some of the most well done history videos on RU-vid. Hands down.

Ooh. I look forward to watching this later when the kids have gone to bed. Yes my life is that exciting. Keep pumping out these bangers, Stefan.

Stefan, your content is so engaging it needs to be seen by the masses. Is so entertaining. You explain everything so everyone can understand what you are talking about! I watch so many prehistory channels and they use the technical terms without explaining what they mean. You need to have your own Netflix special, series, channel. I need your stories every week if possible. Love your work. Please keep up the context.

Excellent video. You have a great sense of humour too.

Stefan is the most underrated anthropologist RU-vidr on RU-vid! Keep up the great work, we all really enjoy watching!

Your production quality, editing, voice narration and story telling is spectacular. National geographic level or even better. Kudos!

Creating stone tool, and stone knapping in general is a fascinating process, it's definitely on an other level than a chimp using a branch to get ants or a rock to crack nuts. You kind of need to understand the crystalline structure of the rock itself to get some results, you also need a lot of dexterity and practice and a cultural background, or at least someone to teach you. This is a brilliant video!

Omg i look forward to watching your Olmec project. Make sure to please cover all the mystery and lore behind where they come from. It’s still a mystery till this day

Just fascinating - thank you for sharing this and for letting us lay people listen in on your discussion.

Absolutely fascinating! I didn't want it to end. Thanks chaps! A beautiful, thought provoking video full of wonder and I could feel them at the brink of the cascade of technology that surrounds us.

Congratulations on making such a professional, authoritative and beguiling video. I taught this material for decades to Y13 students in New Zealand and I wish your video had been available then. Interesting to see K. platyops being brought back into he picture too. Having the field workers actively taking part in the video added to the authenticity and interest They were both articulate and interesting speakers and i will be doing a quick search now to find out more info on them. One question: who is the author of the lovely art work on Hominins that featured every so often?

Such a great channel. I am enjoying it a lot. I like how enthusiastic you are about these issues. It is quite contagious.

I'm a software engineer and discovered my passion for this topic through being infected by it through your passion & awesome work on this channel! thanks a lot!!

What an amazing video! Absolutely eye opening and comparing the monkey's use of tools, both similarities and differences was brilliant. It's too bad the video ended on a such a sad note - the discoveries we will probably never make. We'll never know who first used a spear or made a basket to carry goods. Those are technologies just as critical as a hand ax but we can't ever explore those and what they mean about how our brains evolved because they can't be found.

Great video mate. I always stop what I'm doing and watch whenever you drop something new. It's a sobering thought to think that our ancient relatives even if they aren't in the genus homo all were making and using tools at the same time and similar places, while all walking around upright. It's scary how relatable those thought processes are they must have had in order to make those tools.

Stefan, I believe I speak for all your long-time viewers when I say: We miss your microphone spoooooon. You are the best, down to Earth, speak using common sense, non-arrogant language. Magical. Best archaeological teacher I've ever known. Thanks, buddy. You're making a big difference to young and old.

Stunning information, thanks so much Stephan.

41 seconds ago, a new stefanmilo video, lets go

I'm kind of disappointed that you didn't use one of the stone tools for the unboxing ;)

Oldest tool found, almost certainly not the oldest ever made.

As a Geoarchaeologist, I appreciate your caution in interpreting the stones as tools. From the photos, they look like tools to me. But there are so many unsubstantiated assertions on the web that people will believe anything. The Oldawan and Acheulean tools I have examined are all fine-grained quartzite. Is this material available at your sites? Fascinating work y'all are doing. Thanks.

This is one of many Stefan Milo videos, when I get frustrated that RU-vid does not have a multiple likes button. So often during Stefan's videos, I find myself grabbing my remote, only to realize I have already liked the video. Come on RU-vid you can do better!

My new favorite video. Awesome in every way 🤙

Hi, Stefan! I attended a field school in July/Aug 2010 with the Univ. Of Colorado Denver at Laetoli, Tanzania. Near the end of our excavation, my 2m x 2m unit produced two incisors that got a cursory evaluation as from Homo habilis. Also in that same unit was a stone I thought fit the Olduwan technology, or what little I knew about it. Both the professor who hosted the field school and a well known UK scientist in attendance (she helped me excavate my unit that day) said it was just a stone, nothing to see here. But I still think it was a tool. Your video shows me I may be correct. I have three photos of the rock, but none of the incisors. The stone is the original, rounded shape on one side and flakes "removed" on the other. Again, it does not seem plausible that falling or tumbling would have created that teardrop shape, since the dimensions are only about 9 cm long and 6 cm wide.

I would bet that hand axe with the fossil in the center was a prized possession.

I’ve been reading an older book, called “The Axemaker’s gift”, by two authors, Burke and Ornstein. It suggests that the increase in our intellectual capacity to reason and create, began with making stone tools, such as hand axes. The steps from early hominids to our species, are explained, I am finding it a fascinating read. Very much enjoy your videos, Stefan, this one really resonated since I’ve been reading this book! It also suggests language originated, as the tool makers would need to show and explain to apprentices, how to make them.

I really enjoy how in your videos you're not pushing an opinion, but more so having a discussion about the facts. Thank you.

I didn't think Paranthropus went back as dar as 2.6 to 3 million years old. It's not the first time their remains have been found with Olduwan tools either. I can't imagine Habilis being able to take down a Paranthropus. This is fascinating, thank you.

Absolutely fascinating! Thanks for sharing, sir.

These findings really make me think that stone tool use was something a proto-homonid species was doing and that it proliferated down amongst all the species of Homo, it also makes the discovery and use of fire seem much more natural because smacking two rocks together is bound to make sparks causing small fires and triggering a curious apes curiosity. The timeline for the evolutionary changes brought along through the use of fire also lines up with these 3+ million year old tools. Very interesting stuff.

The background music during the episode was perfect for evoking an emotional response. That of awe. I totally could see that you were in awe of these early ancestors of humans making tools, and the transition to more elaborate tool making with later ancestors. Your passion for material like this really shines through and it totally makes sense that you have attracted an audience. I’m speaking as a musician and one who appreciates the making of music to elicit responses from an audience. Soundtrack music comes to mind, and how important it is in watching a movie, for example, and it’s role in helping the audience feel something. Anyways, I just wanted to let you know I appreciate that you’ve added that extra layer to YOUR storytelling. It’s very much appreciated. As always, I really enjoy your material and keep coming back for more. Thanks for being you, and putting it out to the world for all to see.

The fact that tools can outlive their makers & users by MILLIONS of years is just mind-boggling... 👀 (Will some of our plastic trash still be lurking a million years from now?? Yikes...) Super-fascinating video, thank you Stefan & the site team! Really glad to see the local African experts getting credit too, shows significant progress in how this field of science has operated, even just over my lifetime...

As you were coming to the end of the conversation, and speculating about how our ancestors settled on the "phonolite" rock to use, my mind wondered to a bored youth, some million years ago. As they're hanging out at the familycamp, they start absentmindedly picking up rocks and banging them against other rocks, keeping the one that doesn't break. When an adult comes over to make them stop making loud sounds, they notice that some rocks have sharp edges. "Hey! That sharp edge looks nice. I wonder if that would cut animal hide?" ... And a tradition began.

One thing to remember is the cobble is the source of flakes, which are probably more useful as a tool than the edged cobble on an Olduwan tool.

I was blown away by the West Tofts handaxe. I actually had to stop the video and 'save it for later'. Next time I am in Cambridge, I'm going to go see it. Amazing.

Another banger video. Just one question though, at 0:33, what is jollogy?

@24:40 Missed opportunity to use your million year old Acheulean tool to open the box for your 3 million year old Kenyanthropus Platyops skull*. *Model of skull

These ancient tools are in better condition than mine ! Wonderful video .

Fascinating stuff here. From what I can extrapolate from this, it was our early ancestors inability to agree on a standard of measurement that prevented them from building the first Single Overhead Camshaft Engine. Or, like you say often, the archeological record is incomplete, so we might find evidence that they were on the verge of the Double Overhead Camshaft Engine. And who knows? Maybe solid fuel rockets?

Just got done with your most recent video, and despite it being 4 a.m. i couldn’t resist this topic. You’re such a special creator and you ask the right questions at the right times, so happy i found your channel.

Stefan Milo upload, today is a good day

A really fascinating presentation. To me the key point you made, is that these tools weren't just accidentally made, there was considerable purpose and experience in their making. A long prior history, and cultural memory, leading up to these tools being created. The design, the forethought., goes well beyond any tools made by non-human animals now. Also, the thought processes, show that they were almost certainly making tools out of material that wouldn't last, such sticks, thorns, bar, plant fibre, and much more. I think the earliest tool use, would have been the stick age. As, sticks are the most numerous and versatile tools used by modern hunter-gatherers. A stick, totally transforms the abilities of those who wields it in a skilful way. That fossil shell in the middle of that hand axe, and I believe there older examples, must be early examples of art.

Wow I am in the middle of reading "Lucy," and I'm ripping through it like nothing else and suddently this video comes out! Kismet. One of the best channels on RU-vid no question

I wish i could sit around a campfire with a bunch of friends and talk with you Stefan, listen to your stories. Im riveted, glued, to every word. Visceral you are. You got a great voice for naration. Not to fast not too slow. Soothing even. And your love for the subject just spills over on everybody. The visuals and art are well done especially for a guy in the back room. Please just carry on...im right there with you hanging on every word. I might just get some skulls...they are mesmerizing. Thank you Stefan...!

This was amazing. You have my favorite prehistory channel out there. I love your work and always look forward to your next video!

Stefan coming in hot with yet another archaeological banger. This man has to be stopped folks.

I've learned so much from your channel. It's become one of my favorites. I was homeschooled for many years growing up, and I was never taught evolution or anything factual about the history of the Earth. Luckily I get to learn now and it's incredibly fascinating. I'm going back to school in 3 months as a neuroscience major and your channel, along with a few others, has inspired me to take a few anthropology classes along the way. Really looking forward to it! Thank you!!!

And if the Stone Age is being pushed that far back, can you imagine what that does to the Wood Age- the sticks and spears clubs that they improved upon with stone. 😅

Keep going man! Love this channel since day one! Quality has dramatically increased as well!

This is a fascinating video, @StefanMilo. In fact I am always glad whenever a new video drops! Keep up the wonderful work!

I work in the neuroscience field and I love your channel. The scientific content is thrilling and your ability to break down concepts - so that they are understandable and fun is top notch,Keep up the good work 🇿🇦

I told North 02 (in his comments as I don’t know him) that you guys need to be friends. You two are my favorite. Very different documentary styles yet both the best and both with a lot of heart. Thanks for teaching me all kinds of amazing things

What an unexpected boost to my day that was! Great conversation and fascinating discoveries.

Great video! Thanks for explaining the new discoveries so well! Love your channel!

Making stone tools is actually very difficult, which makes this even more remarkable.

"People are really going to love this".... yes, yes we are. Blessed by your content!

Absolutely love your videos. Keep up the good work.

So somewhere between 3 and 2.6 mya, hippos were making tools and butchering our ancestors. Life was tough.

This is mind blowing. Thank you for helping me see and understand the significance of it!

Something I appreciate about your channel more than I can express is that you take the time to make accurate subtitles. Auto-generated subtitles very often mid-transcribe non-American accents, and also very often mis-transcribe scientific terms. It’s incredibly frustrating and a disservice to people who rely on subtitles or transcriptions to watch videos, and the care you take matters a great deal. Thank you

That was such an awesome video , the time factors are just so great , hard to imagine. Love it . Cheers Stefan

This is incredible! Great video as usual.

Great video! Keep setting the bar higher!

Yet another absolute BANGER

You just need a phrenologist to examine those skull and tell you what they were doing. (Kidding, guys. KIDDING!)

TY, Stefan. another great post.

Very cool Stefan. I love your stuff, your totally infectious enthusiasm. More please.

Thanks for another brilliant video Stefan!! You are the best at telling such compelling stories about archaeology and human evolution

Older human ancestors: *don't clearly make stone tools* Archaeologists: No homo

so interesting thanks for posting!!!

I must confesss I've been watching your videos for a while and still fascinated about it. Congrats!

Stefan, your videos just keep getting better. Thanks!

Thank you Stefan for making such interesting and quality content

Awesome video. You're getting better with each production. I particularly like these in which you talk with the people doing the research, ask questions and translate for us. Thank you. The key point for me was the comment that the materials can't just be smashed at random, hoping you'll find something useful in the shards. The energy budget of gathering and working those materials requires a better success rate. This epitomizes the higher level thinking involved. The process that involves the questions about; is this useful, how can I improve this, what can I do now, what can I do better next time. Video/interview ideas: is the Kelp Highway guy still at Oregon State? Is there an expert on subduction zone geology who might now of uplifted areas that may have preseved ice age sites from rising sea levels. (When I think of this I imagine that someone else has considered it and done the research.)

Another fantastic upload! Great work by you and by the guests! THANK YOU ALL!