Ice age humans in China crafted surprisingly advanced stone tools 146,000 years ago

Archaeologists at the Lingjing site in central China have uncovered evidence that *Homo juluensis*, an extinct human relative, crafted highly advanced stone tools 146,000 years ago during a harsh ice age. The discovery, published in the *Journal of Human Evolution*, contradicts the long-held belief that technological innovation primarily occurred during warmer, more stable periods. The tools, including disc-shaped stone cores, were produced using a structured process involving precise strikes to create sharp cutting flakes. Some cores were symmetrically worked on both sides, while others featured asymmetrical designs with dedicated striking platforms and flake-producing surfaces, indicating deliberate planning and an understanding of stone mechanics. Researchers say this level of sophistication reflects cognitive abilities comparable to those of Neanderthals in Europe and early human ancestors in Africa. The site’s age was determined using tiny calcite crystals found in animal bones, dating it to the late Middle Pleistocene, a time previously thought to show limited technological development in East Asia. Lead author Yuchao Zhao of the Field Museum noted that the tools demonstrate advanced problem-solving, challenging the assumption that creativity only flourishes in prosperous conditions. *Homo juluensis* possessed a mix of archaic and modern human traits, including large brains, and may have interacted with early *Homo sapiens*. The findings suggest that advanced technological thinking was not confined to western Eurasia or Africa but also developed independently in East Asia during extreme environmental challenges. The research, led by Zhangyang Li of Shandong University, builds on over a decade of excavations at Lingjing. It highlights how adversity may have driven innovation, forcing early humans to adapt through careful tool design and resource management.