ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Makapansgat pebble

Once upon a time, long long ago, there was a special little rock called the Makapansgat pebble. It was found in South Africa, and it's very important because scientists think it might be one of the very first objects that early humans ever used!

You see, back then people didn't have all the fancy tools and machines that we have now. They had to use things they found around them. And that's why the Makapansgat pebble is so interesting.

It's just a small rock, about the size of your palm. But scientists think that early humans used it as a tool - to smash things, cut things, or maybe even to grind up food. It might not seem like much, but it was a big deal back then!

The Makapansgat pebble is also special because it was found near some very old human fossils. That means that the people who used this rock were some of the very first humans to ever walk the Earth. Pretty cool, right?

So even though it's just a little rock, the Makapansgat pebble is actually a really important piece of history. It helps us understand how early humans lived, and how they survived without all the things we take for granted today.
Related topics others have asked about: