Early human ancestors learnt how to use stone tools at least 800,000 years earlier than previously thought, according to recent finds reported in Nature.

Researchers discovered animal bones with marks on, which they say is evidence that sharp stone tools were used to cut meat from the bones.

The dig in Ethiopia that turned up the bones was part of the Dikika Research Project. In 2000, the same team discovered the most complete skeleton ever found of a human ancestor, just 200m away.

Tests on the bones have shown that the marks were made before they fossilised. Experts say that the human ancestor Australopithecus afarensis must have been responsible, as no other great ape species lived in this part of Africa at that time, 3.3 million years ago.

The scientists who found the bones say that it is impossible to tell whether the tools were made on purpose, or if they were just naturally sharp rocks.