Early Oldowan technology thrived during Pliocene environmental change in the Turkana Basin, Kenya

A newly discovered archaeological site, Namorotukunan, within the Lake Turkana National Parks, reveals that early Oldowan technology thrived during significant Pliocene environmental changes approximately 2.75 million years ago. This site provides the earliest evidence of Oldowan tool-making in the Koobi Fora Formation and spans a remarkable 300,000-year period, offering unprecedented insights into technological stability and hominin behavioral adaptations amid increasing aridity and environmental variability. Researchers employed multiple paleoenvironmental proxies to reconstruct past ecological conditions, combining geological descriptions with chronological data for robust age control. The study underscores the interplay between environmental shifts and technological innovations, contributing crucial evidence to understanding pivotal factors in human evolution.

Braun, D. R., Palcu Rolier, D. V., Advokaat, E. L., Archer, W., Baraki, N. G., Biernat, M. D., Beaudoin, E., Behrensmeyer, A. K., Bobe, R., Elmes, K., Forrest, F., Hammond, A. S., Jovane, L., Kinyanjui, R. N., de Martini, A. P., Mason, P. R. D., McGrosky, A., Munga, J., Ndiema, E. K., et al. (2025). Early Oldowan technology thrived during Pliocene environmental change in the Turkana Basin, Kenya. Nature Communications, 16(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-64244-x