Scientists believed humans started in East Africa. This changed because of 2.4-million-year-old stone tools found in Algeria. Scientists now say that Algeria is the cradle of civilization. They found 250 tools and 296 animal bones. The animal bones show that early humans cut up meat. The leader of the project said the tools changed his view that humankind originated in East Africa. He said: "Actually, the whole of Africa was the cradle of humankind."
Archaeologists have been digging on this project for 25 years. The tools and bones were found about 200 miles east of Algeria's capital. The project leader said humans were killing animals for meat 600,000 years earlier than we thought. Another archaeologist said the tools showed that our ancestors were more than scavengers. She didn't know if they hunted. The scientists now hope to find the tool-makers and even older stone tools.
