Ancient ancestors blended tree climbing with toolmaking, challenging evolutionary myths

A groundbreaking study reveals that early human ancestors were not just upright walkers but also skilled climbers and toolmakers, blending ancient abilities in ways that challenge long-held views of human evolution.

Researchers analyzed fossilized hand bones from species like Australopithecus sediba and Homo naledi, uncovering evidence that these ancestors combined tree climbing with advanced stone tool use much earlier than previously thought, Caliber.Az reports via Indian Defence Review. 

This discovery questions the traditional idea of a simple, linear evolution from ape-like hands to modern human dexterity.

Paleoanthropologist Samar Syeda, co-author of the study, explained that the fossils show adaptations suited to a dual lifestyle: “They likely walked upright and manipulated tools, but also spent significant time climbing and hanging from trees or cliffs.” This combination demanded hands strong enough to grip branches and agile enough to craft and use tools.

Using advanced 3D scanning, the team measured finger bone thickness and curvature, finding signs of climbing stress and habitual hanging. These findings dispute earlier models portraying early humans as transitioning directly from tree dwellers to exclusively ground-based tool users.

Smithsonian paleoanthropologist Rick Potts, who was not involved in the research, noted, “Hand evolution was not a straightforward progression but a mosaic of adaptations.” Different species developed unique hand traits depending on their environments and lifestyles.

For example, Homo naledi possessed powerful thumbs ideal for gripping tools, while Australopithecus sediba showed less robust but still significant finger bone thickening. These differences highlight the flexible, varied strategies early humans used to balance climbing and tool use, revealing a complex, branching evolutionary path rather than a single, linear story.

By Naila Huseynova