What type of tools did H. habilis primarily use?

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Prepare for the UCF ANT2511 Final Exam with quizzes covering key concepts in anthropology. Study with multiple-choice questions, each packed with hints and explanations. Boost your confidence and get ready for exam success!

Homo habilis is considered one of the earliest members of the genus Homo and is often associated with the development and use of stone tools. This species lived approximately 2.1 to 1.5 million years ago during a time known as the Lower Paleolithic. The tools associated with H. habilis are primarily part of the Oldowan tool culture, which includes simple stone implements such as flakes, cores, and choppers made from river cobbles.

These stone tools were created through a process of knapping, where carefully applied strikes would create sharp edges suitable for cutting, processing food, and other tasks essential for survival. The use of stone tools represents a significant advancement in the capabilities of early humans, illustrating their ability to manipulate their environment more effectively than their predecessors.

In contrast, metal tools were not created or used by H. habilis, as they appeared much later in human evolution. Wooden tools may have been used by some hominin species, but there is no direct evidence linking H. habilis to wooden tool use as a primary means of tool-making. Similarly, while bone tools did exist in later prehistoric contexts, they were not characteristic of H. habilis's tool repertoire. Thus, stone tools are the definitive and appropriate answer