×
GreekEnglish

×
  • Politics
  • Diaspora
  • World
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Culture
  • Sports
  • Cooking
Wednesday
14
Jan 2026
weather symbol
Athens 10°C
  • Home
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • World
  • Diaspora
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Culture
  • Sports
  • Mediterranean Cooking
  • Weather
Contact follow Protothema:
Powered by Cloudevo
> Culture

Scientists think 1.4 million-year-old stone spheroids were…deliberately crafted?

They speculate that perhaps early human ancestors were driven by a desire to create symmetry and enjoy the act of craftsmanship, though the exact function remains unclear

Newsroom September 14 03:23

In the 1960s, when scientists conducted excavations at a site dating back 1.4 million years in northern Israel, they encountered a baffling discovery – they uncovered nearly 600 stone ‘balls’ amongst other more conventional stone tools. Now, scientists have analyzed 150 of these baseball sized stones and concluded that our ancestors intentionally crafted these spheroids! They speculate that perhaps early human ancestors were driven by a desire to create symmetry and enjoy the act of craftsmanship, though the exact function remains unclear.

The findings of this study, which were published today in the latest edition of the journal Royal Society Open Science , hold the potential to provide valuable insights into the cognitive processes of ancient artisans. This is as per Julia Cabanès, a scientist at the National Museum of Natural History in Paris who was not part of the research team, but spoke to Science.

See Also:

>Related articles

Countdown to a U.S. strike on Iran: Americans and Britons evacuate bases, direct assassination threat against Trump from Tehran – Live

Direct assassination threat against Trump from Iran: “This time the bullet will not miss the target”

32 dead after a crane falls on a passenger train in Thailand

Italy: Dozens of boats with illegal immigrants in Lampedusa – 7,000 arrived in 24 hours, Meloni asks for help (videos)

Continue here: Ancient Origins

Ask me anything

Explore related questions

#archaeology#culture#mystery#video#world
> More Culture

Follow en.protothema.gr on Google News and be the first to know all the news

See all the latest News from Greece and the World, the moment they happen, at en.protothema.gr

> Latest Stories

Countdown to a U.S. strike on Iran: Americans and Britons evacuate bases, direct assassination threat against Trump from Tehran – Live

January 14, 2026

Direct assassination threat against Trump from Iran: “This time the bullet will not miss the target”

January 14, 2026

32 dead after a crane falls on a passenger train in Thailand

January 14, 2026

Meeting between Mitsotakis and the “agro-leaders” of the blockades set for Friday

January 14, 2026

Pierrakakis: We will achieve even more through collective effort

January 14, 2026

“All cash”: Netflix is preparing a strategic move to accelerate its $83 billion deal with Warner Bros.

January 14, 2026

Bloomberg: Trump’s son-in-law and Steve Whitcoff plan to meet with Putin in Moscow

January 14, 2026

Taxi strike to continue on Thursday, convoy planned toward the Maximos Mansion

January 14, 2026
All News

> Greece

Meeting between Mitsotakis and the “agro-leaders” of the blockades set for Friday

Earlier, farmers who held an assembly in Palamas, Karditsa said “yes” to a meeting with the prime minister with roads kept open and decided not to hold a rally in Athens

January 14, 2026

Taxi strike to continue on Thursday, convoy planned toward the Maximos Mansion

January 14, 2026

Armed robbery in Thessaloniki with gunfire at a pawn shop

January 14, 2026

The frigate “Kimon” en route to the Salamis Naval Base – Watch the video

January 14, 2026

Meteo: Forecasts point to a warm February in Greece, with temperatures up to +1.2°C above average

January 14, 2026
Homepage
PERSONAL DATA PROTECTION POLICY COOKIES POLICY TERM OF USE
Powered by Cloudevo
Copyright © 2026 Πρώτο Θέμα