A cylinder of soil drilled from Kenya's Koora Basin tells Africa's environmental record of the past million years.
Researchers examined its chemistry and fossil, and combined it with archeological artifacts from Olorgesailie, Kenya.
They show how environmental changes drove technological and cultural innovations in humans.
The study highlights our ability to adapt amidst uncertainty.
Around four hundred years ago, tectonic activities fragmented the East African Rift Valley.
Rainfall became unpredictable.
Vegetation shifted between grassy plains and wooded areas.
Small mammals replaced grazers.
All of this impacted human evolution and society.
Archaeological artifacts show that around that time early humans began abandoning old technology in favour of more sophisticated tools and weapons, and started to broaden their trade networks.
The study makes us ponder - while we are adaptable, are we equipped to endure and thrive amidst a future of climate change and biodiversity loss?
Original article:
Turbulent Era Sparked Leap in Human Behavior, Adaptability 320,000 Years Ago
Original study:
Increased ecological resource variability during a critical transition in hominin evolution