Nature May 2015 PMID 25993961

3.3-million-year-old stone tools from Lomekwi 3, West Turkana, Kenya.

Sonia Harmand, Jason E Lewis, Craig S Feibel, Christopher J Lepre, Sandrine Prat, Arnaud Lenoble, Xavier Boës, Rhonda L Quinn, Michel Brenet, Adrian Arroyo, Nicholas Taylor, Sophie Clément, Guillaume Daver, Jean-Philip Brugal, Louise Leakey

Mentions

351
Peak: 2 in May 2015
across 7 sources since May 2015

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141,785
potential audience

Total likes

1,231

Video views

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May 2015 – Aug 2025

Where it's discussed

  • News210 articles
  • Facebook57 posts
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  • YouTube6 videos
  • Bluesky3 posts

AI synopsis

What people are saying

The group's discussions emphasize the importance of the 3.3-million-year-old tools, with examples referencing the work of Harmand and colleagues, as well as debates around their technological implications. The tone ranges from scientific curiosity to recognition of the discovery's significance, indicated by phrases like 'challenging assumptions' and 'groundbreaking findings.'

AgreementModerate agreement

Most discussions support the significance of the discovery, with many acknowledging it as evidence of early technological development and challenging previous assumptions about hominin tool use.

InterestHigh interest

The topic sparks high curiosity, with comments highlighting the age of the tools, their cultural implications, and pointing out discussions about human evolution.

EngagementModerate engagement

While some posts briefly mention the discovery, others delve into details like the classification of artifacts and their connection to different Homo species, showing a moderate level of engagement.

ImpactModerate impact

The discovery appears to be regarded as impactful in reshaping understanding of human origins, suggesting it could influence future research and archaeological interpretation.

Abstract in brief

  • Recent findings in West Turkana, Kenya, challenge the assumption that the earliest stone tools were made by the genus Homo and linked to climate change and savannah grasslands.
  • *The Lomekwi 3 site, dated at 3.3 million years old, reveals ancient hominin tools found alongside fossils in a wooded environment, indicating an earlier technological development.
  • *The term 'Lomekwian' is proposed for this discovery, suggesting a new phase in archaeological history that predates the known Oldowan tools by 700,000 years.*

Top posts

Most liked on X and Bluesky
#TheSpiderHunter - Black History Is Important!
@Arthur59611540 · X

Today's Feature Hominin - Homo habilis I will get into some detail on this species & its connection to the diminutive H. floresiensis (aka "Hobbit") on the Island of Flores, later. A Brief History Of The Homo Species That Changed Human Evolution Forever.. https://t.co/NP0JV2DN75

Dec 15, 2022 · 5 likes · 1 share · 4,116 followers View post →
John Hawks
@johnhawks · X

@Aliqanbary2000 Oldowan has been defined in many ways but generally Oldowan assemblages were products of freehand percussion, while the Lomekwi 3 artifacts were not. For this reason Sonia Harmand and collaborators named them a new industry, Lomekwian. https://t.co/SxFGrQkAZH

Jun 26, 2022 · 4 likes · 1 share · 28,391 followers View post →
Damien Marie AtHope Ⓐ
@AthopeMarie · X

3.3-million-year-old stone tools from Lomekwi 3, West Turkana, Kenya https://t.co/U4LMfU2pEu

Feb 12, 2023 · 1 like · 1 share · 10,385 followers View post →
Corina Kavanagh
@mellevegimnasia · X

Ay the amo Harmand y 800 colaboradores son poquitas hojas el "3.3-million-year-old stone tools from Lomekwi 3, West Turkana, Kenya"

Aug 19, 2024 · 1 like · 1,006 followers View post →
Wayne Borean — Absent Minded Mad Scientist
@wayneborean · X

RT @johnhawks: @Aliqanbary2000 Oldowan has been defined in many ways but generally Oldowan assemblages were products of freehand percussion…

Jun 26, 2022 · 1 share · 10,845 followers View post →
Damien Marie AtHope Ⓐ
@AthopeMarie · X

3.3-million-year-old stone tools from Lomekwi 3, West Turkana, Kenya https://t.co/U4LMfU2pEu

Oct 27, 2019 · 10,385 followers View post →

All mentions

Corina Kavanagh
@mellevegimnasia · X

Ay the amo Harmand y 800 colaboradores son poquitas hojas el "3.3-million-year-old stone tools from Lomekwi 3, West Turkana, Kenya"

Aug 19, 2024 · 1 like · 1,006 followers View post →
Ọmọ Ìyá Lékè
@abula247 · X

@luciyase The who is a recent development. We can't ascribe the invention to a single person, since those ancient people really took credit for their works. Human dispersed from Africa, making d continent have one of the oldest unwritten and written medical methods. https://t.co/tbZ1UGOXrg

Sep 27, 2023 · 564 followers View post →
puzzler
@doodleface · X

3.3-million-year-old stone tools from Lomekwi 3, West Turkana, Kenya https://t.co/ZOGLW4bIxL

Jul 24, 2023 · 274 followers View post →
daniel
@daxxdrake · X

RT @AthopeMarie: 3.3-million-year-old stone tools from Lomekwi 3, West Turkana, Kenya https://t.co/U4LMfU2pEu

Feb 12, 2023 · 1 share · 1,811 followers View post →
Damien Marie AtHope Ⓐ
@AthopeMarie · X

3.3-million-year-old stone tools from Lomekwi 3, West Turkana, Kenya https://t.co/U4LMfU2pEu

Feb 12, 2023 · 1 like · 1 share · 10,385 followers View post →
Stephanie
@StephyShante · X

RT @Arthur59611540: Today's Feature Hominin - Homo habilis I will get into some detail on this species & its connection to the diminutive H…

Dec 17, 2022 · 1 share · 2,060 followers View post →
#TheSpiderHunter - Black History Is Important!
@Arthur59611540 · X

Today's Feature Hominin - Homo habilis I will get into some detail on this species & its connection to the diminutive H. floresiensis (aka "Hobbit") on the Island of Flores, later. A Brief History Of The Homo Species That Changed Human Evolution Forever.. https://t.co/NP0JV2DN75

Dec 15, 2022 · 5 likes · 1 share · 4,116 followers View post →
Wayne Borean — Absent Minded Mad Scientist
@wayneborean · X

RT @johnhawks: @Aliqanbary2000 Oldowan has been defined in many ways but generally Oldowan assemblages were products of freehand percussion…

Jun 26, 2022 · 1 share · 10,845 followers View post →
John Hawks
@johnhawks · X

@Aliqanbary2000 Oldowan has been defined in many ways but generally Oldowan assemblages were products of freehand percussion, while the Lomekwi 3 artifacts were not. For this reason Sonia Harmand and collaborators named them a new industry, Lomekwian. https://t.co/SxFGrQkAZH

Jun 26, 2022 · 4 likes · 1 share · 28,391 followers View post →
Maria O'Connor
@argeire · X

Homo habilis https://t.co/BRUuwEAiiP

May 11, 2022 · 904 followers View post →
ᛉ
@thineJamie · X

@AmyTheCuteGurl @callmedia1 @BlondRengarPaul @stone_toss // https://t.co/g9X6fwMmR3 // 3.3-million-year-old stone tools from Lomekwi 3, West Turkana, Kenya // 2015/05/01

Jul 25, 2020 · 54 followers View post →
Damien Marie AtHope Ⓐ
@AthopeMarie · X

3.3-million-year-old stone tools from Lomekwi 3, West Turkana, Kenya https://t.co/U4LMfU2pEu

Oct 27, 2019 · 10,385 followers View post →
Dr Matt Pope
@mattpope.bsky.social · Bluesky

First presentation at #Eshe2015. Helene Roche giving first European presentation on Lomeki 3. 3.3 million year old stone tools.

Sep 10, 2015 View post →
nemof-archive.bsky.social
@nemof-archive.bsky.social · Bluesky

wow. someone i knew in primary school discovered those 3.3 million year old stone tools

May 21, 2015 View post →
Dr Matt Pope
@mattpope.bsky.social · Bluesky

We can all finally read about those 3.3 million year old stone tools from Lomekwi, Kenya @NatureNews http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v521/n7552/full/nature14464.html

May 20, 2015 View post →