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Earliest evidence of elephant butchery dates 1.8 million years

8/15/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Researchers announced the earliest direct evidence of proboscidean butchery by early humans, dated to about 1.8 million years ago.
The butchered bones belong to the extinct elephant species Elephas recki.
Excavators found stone tools alongside the elephant remains at Olduvai Gorge.
The study argues hominins deliberately processed the carcasses, creating a food surplus that would have given them a survival advantage.

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Story summary

Researchers announced the earliest direct evidence of proboscidean butchery by early humans, dated to about 1.8 million years ago.
The butchered bones belong to the extinct elephant species Elephas recki.
Excavators found stone tools alongside the elephant remains at Olduvai Gorge.
The study argues hominins deliberately processed the carcasses, creating a food surplus that would have given them a survival advantage.