Were Paleolithic Hand Axes Made For Seduction?

Were Palaeolithic hand axes made to attract partners and did genes play a role in their production? Two interesting hypotheses up for discussion.
Artwork By Ettore Mazza:
/ ettore.mazza
Huge thanks as always to my patreons whose help is essential to the production of these vids!
/ stefanmilo
Primary Sources:
Kohn, Marek, and Steven Mithen. “Handaxes: Products of Sexual Selection?” Antiquity, vol. 73, no. 281, 1999, pp. 518-526., doi:10.1017/s0003598x00065078.
Corbey, Raymond, et al. “The Acheulean Handaxe: More like a Bird's Song than a Beatles' Tune?” Evolutionary Anthropology: Issues, News, and Reviews, vol. 25, no. 1, 2016, pp. 6-19., doi:10.1002/evan.21467.
Secondary Sources:
Beyene, Y., et al. “The Characteristics and Chronology of the Earliest Acheulean at Konso, Ethiopia.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, vol. 110, no. 5, 2013, pp. 1584-1591., doi:10.1073/pnas.1221285110.
Deino, Alan L., and Sally McBrearty. “40Ar/39Ar Dating of the Kapthurin Formation, Baringo, Kenya.” Journal of Human Evolution, vol. 42, no. 1-2, 2002, pp. 185-210., doi:10.1006/jhev.2001.0517.
Yravedra, José, et al. “Mammal Butchery by Homo Erectus at the Lower Pleistocene Acheulean Site of Juma’s Korongo 2 (JK2), Bed III, Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania.” Quaternary Science Reviews, vol. 249, 2020, p. 106612., doi:10.1016/j.quascirev.2020.106612.
/ stefanmilo
Disclaimer: Use my videos as a rough guide to a topic. I am not an expert, I may get things wrong. This is why I always post my sources so you can critique my work and verify things for yourselves. Of course I aim to be as accurate as possible which is why you will only find reputable sources in my videos. Secondly, information is always subject to changes as new information is uncovered by archaeologists.
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www.stefanmilo.com
Historysmilo
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[@rachelwebber3605]

A bit of a correction about nests from an ethologist: More and more research has been showing that many species of birds actually do have to learn how to build nests. Among corvids, it's fairly common for offspring to stay in their parent's territory for several breeding seasons to learn how to build nests and care for chicks. Among bowerbirds, some species appear to be genetically predispositioned to build certain nests while others seem to require a good deal of learning. Even among species that have genetic "blueprints" of nests, they still have to spend a good deal of time practicing nest building.

[@AlexHand]

Interesting. It seems unlikely the same would be true for spiders and web spinning, and many of these kind of behaviors that certain animals are known for. Can we really say they have to be learned, even with animals that separate from parents very quickly?

[@MarioPetrinovich]

@@AlexHand Hm, it looks like you are separating humans on one side, and all the other animals on the other side. For you, other animals are all stupid, only you are smart. If humans can learn, then birds also can learn, although spiders don't have to learn. A blind man "sees" only himself.

[@allandavenport789]

I believe, strongly, in genetic memory. I think that repeated tasks and other environmental stimuli can be picked up in your genes. Over many multiple generations some actions and behaviors become ingrained, genetically. A study was done of people who were just becoming sexually mature during the Great Depression. It found that their grandchildren had measurably longer life spans than their parents or grandparents.

[@davewalter7823]

Learning has been demonstrated in some insects where you wouldn't expect it - tiny egg parasitoids (Trichogramma spp), for example, can learn novel odours associated with hosts - and they have the smallest brains among the insects. So my impression is that our gut feelings about learning are more cultural bias than any real understanding of what animals can do.

[@AlexSalikan]

It's also worth noting that Homo erectus is a relatively recent descendant of nest-builders. All living non-human great apes construct nests, and our (probable) ancestors retained some arboreal adaptations until at least about 3 million years ago, so they may have still slept in nests until shortly before the emergence of Homo erectus. All non-human great apes learn to build nests by observing others, and do not know how to do it by instinct. So Homo erectus comes from a long line of ancestors specifically adapted for plastic learning.

[@tsopmocful1958]

"Is that a handaxe in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me?"

[@doncarlodivargas5497]

"Well, my name are not erectus for no reason"

[@vmitchinson]

🙂😊

[@yegirish]

Homo erectus: “What’s a ‘pocket’”?

[@stefanodadamo6809]

Homo erectus survived, homo moscius disappeared ;)

[@PhilipIIofMacadamia]

* *jabs you in neck with hand axe* * It was a handaxe mate

[@bellamarinelli3085]

In fairness, if I was dating someone and they gave me a hand made hand axe that they carefully made with a damn fossil in the center I would be impressed.

[@noahway13]

Where can I mail you this hand ax I just started making?

[@PatrickPease]

Yeah, no joke. I guarantee that fossil one changed hands a number of times and without a doubt at least one of those was without consent

[@somethingelse4150]

I can smelt iron tools, so... I think this comment section is strong evidence you're correct these were status symbols.

[@Amy_the_Lizard]

Yeah no kidding, that'd be an awesome present!

[@melelconquistador]

Sounds romantic

[@canchero724]

Guy who made that hand axe with the fossil in the middle would've been the absolute gigachad of his time.

[@Magister_Sibrandus]

What if it was made by a woman?

[@benjaminrogers8875]

"Why yes; I do know where all the resources in this area are, how could you tell?"

[@redstone1999]

Ape lady : Look what TukTuk made me ! Ape man DunDee : That ain't a hand axe. This is a hand axe !

[@Amy_the_Lizard]

@Ken Krog Why? You'd just have a flashy cavewoman that all the cavemen were lusting after for her axe making ability

[@NCRonrad]

Very well could have been a skilled grandma 🤷

[@andrewzanas9387]

"Did you see the size of Anemone's engagement axe?" "I'm still trying to figure out how Bluto made it. No way he has enough dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, given that concave forehead of his."

[@Amy_the_Lizard]

Guess the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex that he does have must work pretty well...(also this comment needs more likes)

[@girlnorthof60]

😂 very good.

[@hannahbrown2728]

This made me violently guffaw thank you

[@iliasmastoris529]

😂😂😂

[@linehansen2635]

Hahaha 😂😂

[@MrAchile13]

That microphone looks quite heavy, it's fortunately you have the spoon to act as support.

[@D-angelin.Moarar]

The spoon only serves seduction purposes

[@lealta1481]

He's subtly telling women he is a spooner

[@nancycollins9783]

That spoon has a mysterious role, not its first appearance!

[@sonkeschluter3654]

@@nancycollins9783 only long time subscribers know of the mysterious meaning of the spoon

[@sacredweeds]

@@nancycollins9783 it made more sense when his mic was clipped to it. Let's hear it for tradition!

[@fuferito]

It wasn't just their hand axe manufacturing skills that individual Homo Erectus advertised to potential mates, but the ability to _juggle_ them. Juggling is the shortest path to anyone's heart.

[@ericcloud1023]

Im imagining the first magician, juggling hand-axes, then telling someone to pick a tooth, don't show him, and put it back.....only for him to pull out of their ear lol. Maybe do the old thumb illusion

[@ChauncyFatsack]

Have you seen chimpanzees and orangutans reaction to magic tricks lol! You may have something here!

[@fuferito]

@@ChauncyFatsack, My most scientific example is Peter Jackson's _King Kong._

[@vonderloo3184]

😂💪

[@kafiyo7928]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@PierroCh5]

virgin modern homo sapiens woman: I hope my bf takes me to a nice restaurant ugh it's been so long :( cave woman chadette: If Gnurshk doesn't give me a nice rock I'm dumping his ass.

[@triangularlizard]

the bill wurtz reference XD

[@urrywest]

I am sure they were munching out as well.

[@noahway13]

I only gave thumbs up because it was at 99. And it was OK

[@PierroCh5]

@@noahway13 Thank you for your service sir

[@noahway13]

@@PierroCh5 The world needs more humor.

[@charlesrodgers1604]

Our tools often intersect with art. Looking at these hand axes, they are more than utility, they're art.

[@skellagyook]

Some are very aesthetically pleasing.

[@anyascelticcreations]

I agree. I have a beautiful hand axe made from pure white flint. Found in an area with almost exclusively gray flint. It was made with such precision. It's truly beautiful. It's also one of my most prized posessions. Edit: typo

[@alinaanto]

I thought exactly the same thing

[@breakaleg10]

"His axe is bigger than yours, so goodbye Gog!"

[@keriezy]

Just because its bigger doesn't mean he can use it better!!!

[@MichiganAngling]

A Stefan video on ancient sex axes, what a nice present to wake up to

[@doncarlodivargas5497]

From a time the girl got turn on by tools, as we men are even today

[@ANTSEMUT1]

Brings new meaning to the word getting your rocks off hehehe.

[@reidflemingworldstoughestm1394]

Sex Axe Body Spray ...to interest the females in sex acts?

[@ironsnowflake1076]

He's not much of a talker....but he can pound out a wicked hand axe..... _I'll leave now_ :D

[@VoicesofthePast]

This video is inspiringly well made. Just marvelous.

[@leggonarm9835]

He's been doing this for a while, shame more people can't view them.

[@terraflow__bryanburdo4547]

A joy to behold.

[@AlexandraBryngelsson]

All his videos are like that, very well produced. I wish he had the time to make more

[@stein1919]

it was made for seduction

[@eacalvert]

I happen to know of a couple other KZbinrs you might like that do history videos 😜. I love that there is such a strong history community on KZbin. And yes I'm subscribed to your channel too

[@sarahrosen4985]

I’m sold. I think this should be a thing again and each guy should have to livestream the full knapping process. No cheating.

[@melelconquistador]

Bonus points for no gloves.

[@sarahrosen4985]

@@melelconquistador Gloves!? Does Phil Harding wear gloves?! No, no gloves. That's like using steroids in sports. Natural or nothing.

[@jerrymiller2367]

It's interesting that the classic handaxe shape is so similar to that of diamonds today used for jewelry, like for earrings and engagement rings.

[@StefanMilo]

What do you think of these ideas? Just to further expand on the point I made right at the end, one criticism of the genetic argument was that their form might have been consistent for so long because of the cognitive limits of hominins at the time. When they increased in sophistication around 700,000 years ago, that could be a sign of increased cognitive development. However, even so, they still chose to produce similarly shaped tools. It's a conundrum, it's an interesting idea, it's an interesting debate. Thanks for watching though! Let me know what you think, I'm curious to hear your opinions on these two ideas.

[@gardenlizard1586]

Cutting up a mammoth would require big stones

[@krcmaine]

It is an interesting theory. I really like the ones with fossils in them...I'd pick that guy 😁

[@canchero724]

My crazy theory is that they were ceremonial and were used as the tips of a gigantic spear that a Homo erectus group used to worship a god or used it as a symbol of a clan. Fantastic video Stefan and congrats on the impending 100k milestone. You deserve so many more subs!

[@exodus7192]

Just some wild speculation, but they look like drops of water or even at a stretch, tears. Could represent mementos of departed friends or defeated enemies? I have no confidence in my random theory btw.

[@lastmanstanding5423]

I'm not sure about the "sexual selection" bit... But I'm 100% sure the design was/is imprinted in the DNA. *I have it... I can feel it...* :) To elaborate: I used to be a chef... and as a chef I own a large collection of knifes. (majority fancy Japanese steel) And I also own a large collection of sharpening stones. And I'm quite good at sharpening and maintaining my tools. And for years now I'm convinced I have a "knife gene" or "sharpeners gene". Because there is this state of mind I get into when I start sharpening.... It's similar to meditation, but even deeper. *I can feel that I'm doing exactly what I'm made to be doing.* You know what I mean?? like: _"This feels right!"_ Rocking back and forth. The sound of the blade against the stone. I go to a really really really deep place in the sub-concuss. I guess that's how a bird feels while building a nest. Anyway... Thanks Stefan for confirming something I'm talking about for years. :) I'm gonna use this video to back up my claims in the future. I know it without a doubt.

[@frankmitchell3594]

Assuming that hand axes were originally used as tools and they later became some sort of ceremonial token. That would explain why they were so well formed but not used, like a ceremonial sword today. Plainer or simpler stones would be used as tools and thrown away after use.

[@Wallyworld30]

Anyone we don't have an explanation for something we always chalk it up to ceremonial reasons.

[@alainabishop9299]

I agree that if someone gifted me a handmade ceremonial sword to win my affections I'd be won over, makes sense that the same would go for our oldest ladies in the record

[@Brian67588]

I'd say life was too tough back then for much ceremony. I'd go with an armory of ready to use spears and axes in case of war. A group might have it in a central position in their territory. Having well arranged lethal looking weapons could be a display of each family's strength. That might be what then attracts individuals to join and stay. The giant stones could be symbols or warnings.

[@frankmitchell3594]

@@Brian67588"The giant stones could be symbols or warnings." That's what I meant by 'ceremonial'. I don't think any one had thought of adding a handle or shaft to the stone axe that long ago.

[@seanhammer6296]

@@Wallyworld30 "Because God" seems to work for about 80% of the world's population when they can't explain something.

[@T.J-and-Soul]

Victoria Australia Aboriginals had Green Stone axes that didn't show any wear from use. They were made for Elders of the clans. The one Stone quarry supplied axes for a big part of South Eastern Australia.

[@UteChewb]

A symbol of power and authority? If you think about it, to H. erectus the hand axe must have been synonymous with power and the ability to bring back food. Once that is established it makes sense that ceremonial axes would get very large to suggest that the chief was awesome to be sure, just look at his axe. If it was in erectus's DNA I wonder if it is still in ours. How would it express itself? How would we test for it?

[@T.J-and-Soul]

@@UteChewb I'm teaching myself flintknapping and none of it is coming naturally lol

[@UteChewb]

@@T.J-and-Soul, I would have no idea except for the advice from the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: keep banging those rocks together.

[@T.J-and-Soul]

@@UteChewb ok not sure what that means but thanks 😎

[@AndrewBlucher]

@@UteChewb And take your towel.

[@mikeoxsmal8022]

Well Stefan as you are a seduction master you would know

[@gbhgvhgbh]

Stefan's blood cells are shaped like these axes

[@ZentaBon]

@@gbhgvhgbhLOL

[@thebrutusmars]

The ducks at the local park would disagree with that statement.

[@AtunSheiFilms]

Yoooo 100K! KZbin silver play buttons are definitely made for seduction.

[@StefanMilo]

They certainly are

[@HristovVojnikUOtadzbini]

Congrats Stefan! You deserve 1mil bro 🦾🤖

[@nickhamilton5117]

@@StefanMilo late but congrats man! Glad you make stuff you obviously love and are gaining a following. Really great channel

[@christyrowe4497]

Symmetry is something we subconsciously look for in partners even now. Being able to make a symmetrical item would be more pleasing to the eye and might better attract a partner. It could be that both genders made them for different purposes while still being able to show capability and skill to make themselves more desirable.

[@christyrowe4497]

​@wulpurgis I think attractiveness can be rather subjective in human societies and that needs to be taken into account particularly if the study is localized to a single country/area/social grouping. Some things like symmetrical features seem to be more universal, but other things like body type (weight, height, proportions, etc.), hair, nose shape, etc seem to be more flexible and set more by culture. I'm also curious whether the studies take into account the number of modern individuals who for various reasons chose not to have offspring. In regards to our ancestors I think it depends on the social structure and physiology of the species in question, and we don't know a lot about those factors in them. For example, I haven't seen anything indicating that we know or theorize when the current reproductive pattern of concealing fertility periods developed in ourancestry. There is the idea that females in our species hid their cycle so a mate would stick around to raise more vulnerable offspring. Which then leads to the theory about women picking a more dominant male for a short term fling for making offspring and having a more reliable mate for raising them. Back to video: In regards the the plethora of unused axes the video discusses maybe giving them to a potential mate was the equivalent of bringing food, useful rocks, or flowers as a gift? It might also have been that having a lot of gifted axes was seen as a status symbol among the female members of the group. Or they were traded as the equivalent of dowries. Side topic: I've read that in some non-primate species in a harem-style life (deer, horses, sheep, songbirds, etc) the less dominant/attractive females typically have female offspring because those are almost guaranteed to be able to reproduce where as a less fit male won't ever have offspring.

[@christyrowe4497]

@wulpurgis Very much so.

[@jackturner4917]

What an axe-cellent video. You axe-plained it so well.

[@AndrewBlucher]

I think your comment only works if read with the appropriate ax-cent!

[@paulohagan3309]

Axiomatic

[@1984potionlover]

The "Ax"cidental Caveman.

[@ashleytaylor3980]

I'm going to try an image of me knapping a wicked sick hand axe on my Tinder profile. Could awaken something primal in a potential mate.

[@sherk3286]

I would try this if i didnt just get a new gf. Maybe I could send the picture to her and see what happens 😂

[@ashleytaylor3980]

@@sherk3286 hey babe, check out the size of my hand axe

[@knearhood8]

try it out

[@sherk3286]

@@ashleytaylor3980 Hell yea i think she'd love that 😂

[@vonderloo3184]

Survey some rock hunter channels? 🤓😂

[@olelubbers9441]

Unga Bunga corp had a monopoly on stone axes in the Paleolithic. That's why they are al so consistent

[@marcotedesco8954]

And then they say capitalism breeds innovation 🙄

[@yegirish]

Just extremely rigorous patent protection in the paleolithic

[@thedwightguy]

@@yegirish Their tools were rigid and rigorous. le t the jokes begin.

[@noahway13]

I thought Unga Bunga was bought out by Flintstone Corp?

[@brianmccarthy5557]

Why don't we ask Joe Biden. I understand Unga Bunga Corporation gave him a lot of trinkets and juvenile females to both lobby for them against Flintstone and to make Flinstone products illegal on the grounds that their ability to be used more than once would lead to mass choppings. Old Joe has a lot of experience in this area, even before he scared off Corn Pop.

[@bobthetroll]

99.9k you are about to upgrade from a village to a town full of subscribers! congrats! 👍

[@fredericksmith7942]

I think he passed town a while back. I’d say he’s at about a medium sized city of subscribers at this point! 🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@jeanettewaverly2590]

From a tribe to a chiefdom!

[@Thrashdragon]

Gives a whole new meaning to “knap time”

[@mdstanton1813]

🤣❤✌

[@ZentaBon]

Ooo good one!

[@foxhound963]

Knapflints and chill

[@ellenlewis9860]

😂😂😂

[@hamishjames908]

some times you have to rock some peaple to sleep

[@Galenus1234]

As a male myself, I can tell you: Every single time a human male does something useless or out-right stupid it has to do with showing off -- either to impress women directly or to raise in social status amongst his male peers and thus to impress the women indirectly.

[@lakrids-pibe]

Anyway here's Wonderwall

[@dannyvanhecke]

Yes, I'd guess it's probably more to raise in social status amongst male peers to impress the women indirectly.

[@onlyslavesareequal2790]

That is actually scientific view. Pretty much every effort by living creatures is linked to succesful reproduction. It is only natural. Even survival makes sense only in order to keep individual alive for reproductive purpouses. After reproduction creatures often risk their lives for lives of offspring, so genetic lineage is priority.

[@abstract5249]

Sometimes it's not even about impressing women. It's about impressing other men. Take bodybuilding for example. Most women aren't particularly attracted toward the type of physique modern bodybuilders have. In fact, many women think it's excessive to the point of looking unattractive. But other men? We think it looks badass and can't help clicking on that thumbnail featuring bulging veins and muscles.That's why all the comments on videos about bodybuilders come from other men instead of women. Women are more likely to comment on videos featuring "cute" or "dreamy" men -- actors, singers, dancers, pop artists, that sort of thing.

[@botanicalitus4194]

eh, thats a bit of a generalization. It could be curiosity, boredom, spite, or just that they didnt realize it would be stupid/useless lol

[@captaincapitalism9535]

Maybe it was just a prehistoric handicraft, like how people today knit or carve wood for no other purpose than to relax or cure boredom.

[@dr.floridaman4805]

I like to show off my carved wood, especially to the female.

[@angeloschibetta9873]

A lot of people feel unfulfilled/upset if they're unable to make something or make it well, perhaps that had a genetic base in erectus?

[@captaincapitalism9535]

@@angeloschibetta9873 Could also explain art and why we enjoy making and viewing it on the whole.

[@pansepot1490]

@@captaincapitalism9535 very good hypothesis. Same as mine 😁 We find simple objects like pots and tools that are thousands of years old and which combine functionality with pleasing design and often decorations. Reasonable to infer we inherited our attraction for aesthetic from our ancestors. Always assuming there must be an evolutionary advantage for everything is a bit reductive imo. Well, not just imo. “In evolutionary biology, a spandrel is a phenotypic trait that is a byproduct of the evolution of some other characteristic, rather than a direct product of adaptive selection. ..” handaxes are not a phenotypic trait but the same principle can apply to psychological traits i guess. Bigger smarter brains get bored if not employed in something.

[@jwvandegronden]

Not sure, it seems an injury prone activity which they would very selectively expose themselves to. Giving it the moor value to a well made hand axe.

[@LuxisAlukard]

Maybe they were ancient form of engagement rings or bride-price? But it's crazy cool idea!

[@sherk3286]

I hope this is true, make a handaxe to propose or to give when married as a marriage marker would be cool

[@Jobe-13]

Could be.

[@moggtheboss3087]

Then one Palaeolithic man married 250 times in a year

[@johnranger6177]

Hey Stefan I found a hand axe in Queensland with a completely flat bottom. So it sits up perfectly. I have always thought it was made for display due to the flat base.

[@Lilykuy]

The more I learn about Paleolithic peoples the more I fall in love with them oh my goodness. They are so easy to relate to and gosh the fossils in the hand-axes. I’m still to this day impressed and intrigued!! Just so cool I love it so much

[@hawktrainer]

I like to think that tear-drop diamonds of our time support this idea, and are a legacy of this behavior.

[@andrewgregovic1608]

Precisely what I thought 2 seconds before I saw your comment!

[@rocroc]

I had to repair a buried downspout line that was improperly laid by the builder. In order to get to the line we had to create a hole that was 5x12 by up to 10 foot deep. There was once a mile high glacier on top of my property in Ohio that left clay soil where you would hope for dirt. After filling in the hole it left a 3 foot mound. I mixed the clay soil with regular soil and waited for the mound to sink in. I wanted to plant grass and winter was closing in. That dried clay soil would not break up so I had to break it into smaller pieces. I tried all my garden tools but nothing worked the way I wanted it to. I sat on the ground frustrated and looked over at a couple of hand size rocks that were set aside and never thrown back into the hole. I picked up a nice hand size rock and began bashing the clay clumps against another flat rock. It worked perfectly and the top of that mound was soon reduced to dust. I suppose you could call that my hand "axe". It still did the job after all of these millions of years :-)

[@foxhound963]

sometimes you have to go back to basics.

[@fleetskipper1810]

What’s impressive to me is that your brain “regressed” enough to recognize those rocks as possible tools suitable for your specific job. Way to go!

[@areted1985]

Perhaps I'm projecting, but is it just a coincidence that these have the same silhouette as a guitar pick?

[@rayperkins6006]

One hell of a guitar!

[@dorian4646]

Sees the title and thumbnail : *instant click*

[@dooleyfussle8634]

Yeah, I'm a flint knapper and have been working on learning how to make the "mother of all stone tools". While doing research on them I found that one researcher thinks they weren't actually tools at all but were cores, with the tools being the flakes that were removed from them. I'm not convinced but it does explain why many of them were never used.

[@davewalter1216]

Interesting point, but that only seems to work up to a point. Weren't these hand axes generally similarly formed and still containing lots of potential flakes?

[@jerrymiller2367]

They could be the cores, but why were they so careful to leave the cores symmetrical? It's possible they intended to knap the axe down to a smaller and smaller size, keeping it the same shape as they went along, but then never finished it.

[@rasmasyean]

I bet it's a simple explanation for this like they put it in the end of a tree trunk to ram it into a large animal while it's sleeping or just standing around thinking there's no natural predator around. Flesh doesn't wear down rock and blood would be gone by now. Maybe you can even javelin throw it together accurately over a short distance.

[@memomorph5375]

This is so funny, carved wooden wedding spoons are a tradition from my culture. Kind of the same thing!

[@andreweckert3369]

So close to 100k subs! I just wanted to say congrats preemptively!

[@ericcloud1023]

Thanks for your quality uploads brotha! This comment is for the almighty algorithm!!! May your video be both monetized & in many recommended feeds

[@0mVi]

Once again congrats on the 100k. Seeing how much you improved your editing and all the nice little style choices and art while being faithful to the good old spoon is the reason I support you man, plus you are just a nice bloke ;)

[@yegirish]

Man, your writing, presentation and production value continue to get better. This is the only place I’d watch a 12 min video on paleolithic handaxes

[@OL9245]

I never though a hand axe could be compared to a bird nest. Very intersting indeed! Btw, what about spécialisation and (pre)industrialisation of the making of these tools? I remember of evidences of "factories" where stone tools were made at such a scale that it was evidence of specialised workers (which implies the ability of trading these tools afterwards at signicant distances). Such industrial scale could explain a large quantity of unused tools

[@SloveneAnon]

Correct me if I'm wrong but those "factory-quarries" only appear much later in the historical record if I'm not mistaken. Sites like Quelfénec and Langdale are dated at 6000-4000 BC.

[@OL9245]

@@SloveneAnon I have heard about such sites back from the paleolithic. I just hypothesised that much more ancient ones may have existed.

[@FigureOnAStick]

Man, I never realized how much artistry was put into hand axes. They definitely speak to the intelligence and sense of aesthetic of hominids, if not necessarily their creativity

[@nicodrueed3245]

Really love your videos Stefan ! Either the subject, the writing and your personality. The comparison with the bird nest was such an eureka moment for me. Thank you !

[@JohnM-ci2uk]

100k!! Congrats! You deserve it all so let's keep it growing!

[@djfrank68]

“Is that a hand axe, or are you just happy to see me?”

[@josephliddle309]

I have tried making a hand ax with random rocks I found around my neighborhood. A few comments... it's really hard. There is something compelling about it. Once you get going it's very interesting. Even my kid with the basic idea had a go at it and seemed to have fun. Also its a little dangerous, you will sometimes cut yourself. I think all of that speaks to possibly knowledge in the DNA. I made a crude one that I was able to cut branches off a tree with it. The people that made those in the video were artists (artisans) for sure. Finding workable stone is a lot harder than I expected. I found a small agget that made some very sharp edges but tiny. Finding a large enough stone would be a challenge. In the end, it was easier for me to buy from somebody for good stone. I think there must have been people specializing in making these tools and finding the stone, and trading them for meat etc. The next thought is about the big ones: I think those were for cutting wood, like tree trunks. Or splitting wood rounds. The WEIGHT is just as much of the tool as the cutting edge. Maybe it was used for butchering large animals, cutting off legs?

[@OPVSNOVVM]

Congrats on 100k! Been following you since before 10k. You deserve much much more

[@flamencoprof]

It's great to hear that people are continuing to come up with some new ideas in this field.

[@JayDeeChannel]

The more we learn about genetic memories and instruction the more wonder.

[@SandraBonney]

I studied pottery years ago. One day when we were making our Pueblo pots, I was impressing triangles into my pot for decoration and it just came to me how to do it in such a way that the triangles were spaced evenly all the way around the pot. It felt like a memory, I pondered at the time whether it might be a genetic memory? Like I knew but in reality this was all new to me, I'd never done this before and even throwing the pots seemed to come easy to me. I miss those pottery class days

[@fleetskipper1810]

The human brain is hardwired to see certain things, and it sounds like your hardwiring produced the insight to place your decorative triangles as you did. I’ve had insightful moments like this where I can just “see” the way I should do something that I’ve never done before. It really does make you wonder about epigenetics.

[@banditthedog6268]

I once brought my beloved a quarter of venison to win her heart .. it worked.

[@joelfoote9720]

Every video you make is such a treat. I’ve never clicked faster in my life! Keep up the good work!

[@drownedtoad6391]

Great video Stefan. Loving the editing!

[@nealsterling8151]

Could it be that these Hand Axes where also used as some sort of currency?

[@stuartbruff8786]

"Sorry, pal, it's the smallest axe I've got on me." "Sigh. Marge, can you knock up a couple of flakes? We're running short of change."

[@nealsterling8151]

@@stuartbruff8786 😄

[@therealdarklizzy]

That would make sense, actually. Throughout history, things that were used for currency were usually utilitarian things that could be used and were in high demand, either metals or in some cultures, things like cocoa beans. Considering the fact that the average lifetime of a handaxe was likely months due to their fragile nature, I can see some Homo Erectus making extra handaxes in their free time and trading them for food or materials.

[@billybones9117]

A bit flaky, but Stephan has some good points.

[@bethanykarasek7819]

I seriously love your videos, I get so excited whenever you upload a new one :)

[@KM-yf6qz]

Could the aesthetics of these hand axes be the precursor to the concept of art?

[@angeloschibetta9873]

I like this idea, and would like to add my own: early spoken language also served as art by singing

[@KM-yf6qz]

@@angeloschibetta9873 and I like your idea too

[@davewalter1216]

Why not actual art? Especially if many showed no signs of wear and hence were not obviously used as tools. Not that tools can't be art, or even that art can be adequately defined, but if you created a sculpture that looks like a giant tool, I'm sure you could get away with calling it art. I find it strange that most people automatically assume our ancestors (even if H. erectus wasn't a direct ancestor they were close) lack the characters that we think of as most human.

[@walrus4046]

Damn. All these years trying to impress the ladies with flowers and chocolates. I just needed to take a nap to get the girl of my dreams!

[@keriezy]

✌

[@TheBernhardEwers]

Awesome production quality Stefan! Keep it up.

[@benghazi4216]

Another video from Stefan?! The last one was a long one, and only three weeks ago, so this is unexpected! And I see you now have 100k subs exactly, so congratulations, you've really earned it

[@AnarKhaos]

Interesting. I loved the ones with the fossils! However my opinion is that those tools were made not just to impress women, but to impress people in general: hence to have a higher status and therefore to get the women as well. Also, I am sure there are studies out there about why we love symmetry so much, it was probably the same for them.

[@miriadetasy]

I wish i could go back in time, lately every night i can't sleep wondering about stuff like this lol

[@teklaugulava4243]

This is really cool that someone contiune doing this type of content on youtube 😍

[@SilveeYT]

Thank you for that thumbnail, Stefan. God, I needed that this morning 😆🙏

[@Elektrolurch89]

never clicked on a video so fast

[@DATA-qt3nb]

"Jorugh Cavemane makes the best stone axes in all of Rockrun"

[@arturrutkowski2100]

Dude, It's been three weeks sińce you published your last video! Three weeks! There are people waiting for your videos of sheer coolness. Cheers, a fan.

[@jorgemate901]

Love your videos mate, can't get enough! As always thank you!

[@afox4254]

I do love myselfe a man who knows how to use his Paleolithic hand axes not gonna lie... 😏

[@shukracharya_]

😂😂

[@danpatterson8009]

Cave-woman 1: "You see Og axe? It big!" Cave-woman 2: "Someday we have word for this."

[@aitorboadabenito1362]

What a wonderful video. Congrats, Stefan! 👏🎉👏🎉

[@gequitz]

Congrats on 100K! I've been seeing you since I found you during Operation Odysseus with the Neanderthal Boat video. Can't wait until you have 1 Million subs and beyond.

[@dearashad]

Thank you for my paleo anthropology fix; I should be asleep since I work graveyard, but since I’m not surrounded by other enthusiasts (addicts) for this niche area of science, I typically have difficulty finding time for my next dose. 💉

[@wendyrock4260]

A lot of women like intelligent men, could be as simple as that.

[@wojciechficek616]

Неу, girl, not wanna brag, but I got the highest score in class on the mental instability test.

[@onlyslavesareequal2790]

But nerdy men with highest intelligence have much harder time getting GF than simple minded atheltic types who are never single...

[@jeffczermanski2993]

I love that you still have the spoon, even though you got a real mic. It makes me laugh every time I watch your videos.

[@zaratustra00]

Congratulations on 100k subscribers!

[@anthonyp3113]

Finally, a clickbait title that delivers!

[@jeremiasrobinson]

Newer viewers to this channel don't understand why there is a spoon taped to your mic. :)

[@ryanbarringer9993]

Wow. Awesome with the 100k subscribers. I found you at 6.7k great work.

[@keepyourbilsteins]

This is among your best work. Thanks man!

[@caomunistadoggo4129]

"look how hot he seems when he makes this axe!" "Ooooh he uses his hand so well doing it..."

[@spsmith1965]

I need a hand axe.

[@alonsolekue]

me too ,may be that was the reason women.....

[@wiseguy8828]

Love all the upgrades in quality. Night and day. And more importantly, everything is improved but still in a very Stefan Milo kind of way.

[@sashka222]

Great food for thought! Keep up the good work man!

[@dariustiapula]

Now I imagine a stone age John Wick sommelier.:P

[@keithmeech9510]

Gifts. I make a really nice axe and give it to my heart throb. They see how cool I am. They, being so desirable, have received axes from all sorts of suitors and don’t ever use a whole load of them. It’s very like the birds or fish that make nests. Just an idea.

[@ruththinkingoutside.707]

Another excellent video Stefan... thanks again!! Greatly appreciated 🥰

[@squarecoffee8750]

Congrats on 100k !!

[@matthill263]

Maybe the genetic role was just that their genes predisposed them to find that shape aesthetically pleasing.

[@Clyde7709]

Thanks for making my cheese sandwich interesting!

[@dreamerliteraryproductions9423]

Thank you for a fascinating presentation! Love your videos!

[@MrOreo2010]

Congrats on 100k!

[@moodist1er]

Phallic felling > pheromones

[@DoctorProfessorPablo]

I’m here for the gay hominids theory that we still haven’t gotten !

[@dr.floridaman4805]

If they were gay then there wouldn't be offspring.

[@DoctorProfessorPablo]

@@dr.floridaman4805 what's your point? Still a conversation worth having.

[@Antaios632]

@@dr.floridaman4805 kind of a naive assumption. I am a gay man myself, and I know many gay men who have biological children. It's quite common.

[@StefanMilo]

I suppose I haven’t made a video on that because I believe that they would’ve had gay hominins. It’s not a radical idea to me but if people are interested I could explain why I feel that way. Trey the explainer already did a video on that subject too kzbin.info/www/bejne/g5mQeaR5r6qNipY

[@beth7935]

@@Antaios632 And everyone forgets the bisexuals, lol...

[@joeshmoe8345]

Thanks for another fun and interesting video.

[@KT-xd9yt]

Great video, you are really evolving into a top notch educator

[@timmullens9479]

I was not a self made trog -I actually inherited my huge axe from my dad and a second axe when my uncle died in a tragic tyranosauras conflict

[@stenkamx5406]

Hey when I watched your videos play night you were at 99.9k Subs. I was hoping mine would be the 100th but no luck. Congrats on hitting it while I slept!

[@martinc9215]

I always look forward to your videos. I love them. Thank you

[@dosesandmimosas9696]

I found that hypothesis super interesting. Thanks for the good content.

[@daverei1211]

Another great video Stefan