Which of the following best describes the Lower Palaeolithic-Oldowan tools?

Prepare for the NCEA Level 3 Biology – Human Evolution Exam. Use quizzes, flashcards, and detailed explanations to ensure success. Master key concepts and get ready with confidence!

The best description of Lower Palaeolithic-Oldowan tools is that they are pebbles with flakes knocked off one edge. Oldowan tools are some of the earliest known stone tools, dating back around 2.6 million years. They represent a significant advancement in technology for early hominins and are characterized by their simple construction. These tools often consist of rounded stones that have had parts chipped or flaked away to create a sharp edge, making them effective for cutting and processing food.

This method of creating tools reflects the cognitive and motor skills of the hominins at the time, demonstrating their ability to manipulate materials to produce functional equipment. The Oldowan tool industry is primarily associated with early hominins such as Homo habilis, who used these tools for a variety of tasks, including butchering meat and processing plants.

The other choices do not accurately represent Oldowan tools: hollowed stones are typically associated with different tool-making traditions, finely polished blades represent a later development in stone tool technology (the Upper Palaeolithic), and iron tools with serrated edges did not appear until much later in human history, after the advent of metallurgy.

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