1.4 Million-Year-Old Stone Tools in Ukraine Suggest Early Human Presence in Europe

New findings from the Korolevo archaeological site indicate the earliest evidence of hominins in Europe, challenging previous migration theories.

Stone tools dated to about 1.4 million years ago found in western Ukraine may represent the earliest evidence of human ancestors in Europe.
Researchers suggest the tools were likely made by Homo erectus, marking a significant east-to-west migration pattern.
The discovery fills a critical gap in the understanding of early human migrations into Europe, previously evidenced only in Georgia and Western Europe.
Advanced dating techniques, including cosmogenic nuclide dating, were used to determine the age of the tools and the sediment layer.
The findings challenge traditional views on human dispersal and development, suggesting a more complex history of early human presence in Europe.