I like the Sci fi "evolution" (Stephen Baxter, 2002) theory that making good hand axes was a bowerbird like breeding show ritual, with no intent to use: the value is proving you CAN.<p>He probably had good inputs from his sources to fictionalise this.<p>Can anyone recommend a good fast YouTube video summarising approach? 2x speed play only goes so far.
If it’s ancient and you can’t figure out what they are for, there’s a high probability that’s either used for spiritual rituals (aka just getting high on some drugs), or something has to do with humans’ reproduction, sexual or maternal labour/delivery.
I don't get it, isn't 'handaxe' pretty suggestive of its primary use?<p>Sure a lot of them don't have noticeable wear but frequent sharpening seems like a plausible enough explanation, I don't see why more is needed.
How comes they’re found around the world.<p>This could suggest that it is something people were using before they left Africa.<p>Either that or they all found a common use for the same sort of thing.