350,000 years old stone axes found in in southern Turkey

Archaeologists in Turkey have discovered the world's second oldest axe, at Antalya's Karain Cave, believed to be 350,000 years old.

Credit: DHA 

The Palaeolithic archaeological site is located at Yagca Village 27 kilometers (17 miles) northwest of Antalya city in southern Turkey.

Harun Taskiran, a professor at the Department of Archaeology in Ankara University, said during the excavation process, they have found a sharp, two sided axe, equaling more or less to the size of a human hand, in the middle Palaeolithic era layers of the cave.

Credit: DHA 

He said that the axe must have been used for hunting. Another similar axe was found in the same cave last year.

The presence of axes and tools concludes that the cave was a living space, where ancient people were making tools. It also shows that they (ancient people) had discovered fire and were separating flesh of animals that they hunted.

Credit: DHA 

The excavations in the Karain Cave had begun in 1946. The area is believed to have a history of 500,000 years.

Taskiran says that the remains of hippopotamus, rhinoceros, elephants and Homo neanderthalensis were also found in the Cave.

Credit: Arkeolojik Haber [August 10, 2019]