National Geographic News, Reporting Your World Daily

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Photo: Stone Age Superglue Found -- Hints at Unknown Smarts?


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Ancient people in what is now South Africa whipped up a glue of powdered red ochre and acacia-tree gum to keep their tools (above, a replicated tool with adhesive made by scientists) intact, a May 2009 study says.

The ancient people's understanding of chemistry may have required more smarts than we give our ancestors credit for, researchers added.

Photograph courtesy Lyn Wadley