East Africa may lose its crown as 'cradle of mankind'
An Oldowan core (stone tool) freshly excavated at Ain Boucherit, Algeria, from which sharp-edged cutting flakes were removed. PHOTO | MOHAMED SAHNOUNI | AFP
Archaeologists in Algeria have discovered stone tools and cut animal bones that may be up to 2.4 million years old, bringing into question East Africa's title as the cradle of humanity, according to research published Thursday in the journal Science.
The artifacts — more ancient than those discovered in the region until now — were found in Setif, some 300 kilometers east of Algiers, by a team of international researchers, including Algerians.
