Hand anatomy and tool use in Australopithecus

Researchers at the University of Tübingen in Germany report that several Australopithecus species likely used tools. The key evidence lies in the hands, where the bones and tendon pathways show a grip-ready arrangement that echoes the anatomy of modern humans. The work appeared in the Journal of Human Evolution, a prominent journal in paleoanthropology that often shapes how scientists discuss early hominins and their technology. The authors emphasize that the hand structure in these early hominins is not just about strength but about the fine control needed to shape, grasp, and manipulate small objects. This combination of strength and dexterity is exactly what researchers expect to see when stone tools are part of a species’ behavioral toolkit.