Stone bias creates a distorted view of deep‑time human history

Stone bias creates a distorted view of deep‑time human history. Only the hardest materials (stone) survive long enough to be found by archaeologists. There are just nine accepted Homo sapiens sites older than 100 000 years. The sample size is too small to draw reliable conclusions about early human behavior.

Only the hardest stone survives long enough for archaeologists to find; just nine Homo sapiens sites exceed 100 000 years; the tiny sample skews our picture of early humans. We must beware of stone bias.

Key Facts

• Only the hardest materials (stone) survive long enough to be found by archaeologists.
• There are just nine accepted Homo sapiens sites older than 100 000 years.
• The sample size is too small to draw reliable conclusions about early human behavior.

Source: We May NOT Be the First Civilization by Michael Button