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8. Cultural Evolution and Early Technologies
The East African Rift saw not only the biological development of our species but also the cultural evolution separating humans from other animals. Sites along the rift valley, such Olduvai Gorge in Tanzania and Koobi Fora in Kenya, provide some of the first proof of stone tool use. Dating back almost 3 million years, these instruments indicate the start of human technology and show a notable increase in cognitive ability.
Early humans developed their tools and technologies together with their own evolution. Rich archaeological record produced by the rift valley shows the development from basic stone tools to more sophisticated items like hand axes, spears, and finally pottery and metalworking. Cognitive development, social organisation, and the capacity to adapt to many surroundings all followed this technological evolution.
The area also offers some of the first indications of symbolic behaviour and art, like the beads and other ornaments created and the body ornamentation using ochre. These cultural developments most certainly had a major influence on the evolution of social systems, language, and finally the sophisticated societies that would arise in next phases of human history.
