Research by Dr. Finestone Highlighted in Year-End Press
CLEVELAND—January 29, 2024—The most influential scientific breakthroughs of 2023 included advancements in space-time theories, nuclear fusion feats, and discoveries about the ingenuity of human ancestors. Among those stories shedding light on our ancestors’ ancient past—and continuing to gain national attention—is a study co-authored by the Cleveland Museum of Natural History’s Assistant Curator of Human Origins, Dr. Emma Finestone.
Dr. Finestone was part of a team of scientists, led by Dr. Thomas Plummer of Queens College, CUNY, who published a study in the journal Science in February 2023. The team presented discoveries from western Kenya, at a locality named Nyayanga, that included some of the oldest examples of stone tools from an ancient industry called “the Oldowan.” These tools were used to butcher hippos and pound plant material. The artifacts are conservatively dated to between 2.6 and 3 million years old. Excavations and surveys at Nyayanga also produced a pair of massive molars belonging to the human species’ evolutionary relative, genus Paranthropus. The teeth are among the oldest fossilized Paranthropus remains ever found, and remarkably, suggest that Oldowan tools may have expanded beyond our direct ancestors.
“The ability to make and use stone tools was an important breakthrough in our evolutionary history,” says Dr. Finestone. “However, we don’t know definitively who made the earliest tools, what tasks the tools were used for, or how deep in time Oldowan technology extends. Nyayanga offers a glimpse into some of these big questions in human evolution. Finding Paranthropus alongside early stone tools is especially intriguing because it’s often assumed that Oldowan tools represent a technological breakthrough for our ancestors in genus Homo, not our evolutionary cousins Paranthropus.”
The findings set the scientific community abuzz and even spilled over into mainstream media features such as National Geographic, BBC, PBS, CNN, and the Late Show. Now, with the close of 2023, Dr. Finestone’s work continues to make headlines by gaining national recognition in several year-end highlights, including National Geographic’s “The 11 most astonishing scientific discoveries of 2023” and The Smithsonian Magazine’s “Thirteen Discoveries Made About Human Evolution in 2023.” The scientific journal Nature Ecology and Evolution selected the study as one of the top research articles of 2023 to be highlighted in its “Year in Review,” and PLOS SciComm also ranked it among the year’s top discoveries in human evolution.
“It is exciting to see this level of public interest in the Nyayanga stone tools,” says Dr. Finestone. “I think our study resonated with people because these findings challenge long-held assumptions about the abilities of our non-human relatives. The association of early stone tools with Paranthropus opens a compelling whodunnit mystery.”
Not one to rest on her laurels, Dr. Finestone is poised to conduct another field season in Nyayanga, Kenya to continue investigating ancient tool behaviors. She hopes the team will uncover additional evidence that could help solve the mysteries that the Nyayanga findings have raised. Dr. Finestone also hopes that these discoveries will continue to stimulate curiosity about human origins research, especially locally.
“I look forward to continuing to build popular interest in this research, especially here in Cleveland, where there is a long legacy of scientists making significant discoveries in human origins. Our city has historically been a leader in the field of Biological Anthropology, inspiring local and international audiences alike to consider what it means to be human.”
This year, the Museum will celebrate the 50th anniversary of one of the most iconic fossil hominins ever found. Lucy, the first identified individual from the species now known as Australopithecus afarensis, was discovered in Ethiopia in 1974 by Dr. Donald Johanson, a paleoanthropologist and the Museum’s former Curator of Physical Anthropology. Dr. Johanson and his team found about 40% of Lucy’s skeleton and later determined her fossils to be approximately 3.2 million years old. At the time, this made Lucy both the oldest and most complete early human ancestor or relative ever found. The museum will celebrate Lucy’s anniversary with special programming and events. Among them, Dr. Finestone will give a public lecture on Thursday, April 18, titled “Lucy: 50 Years Later” as part of the Museum’s Break for Science lecture series.
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The Cleveland Museum of Natural History’s $150 million transformation project is an unprecedented reinvention that will align the Museum’s architecture with its mission of instilling a passion for nature and science in all learners. The Transforming the World of Discovery campaign has raised more than $134 million for this project, which will expand the Museum's building to more than 375,000 square feet and its outdoor visitor areas to more than 2 acres. The transformation project aims to broaden community access and help all stakeholders understand their connection with the natural world and the relevance of science to their daily lives. The latest milestone in this project was the opening in October 2023 of a welcoming new Visitor Hall, a free community space that showcases eight of the Museum’s most iconic objects and specimens.
This dramatic, 14,650-square-foot gallery features ceilings that soar to 21 feet and stunning new exhibits placed along the Douglas McCreery and Dr. Laurie McCreery Timeline of the Earth, which marks key events in the history of the Universe. Slated for completion in late 2024, the Museum’s transformation encompasses a complete reimagining of the Museum campus and all its exhibits. Pioneering a new model for natural history museums, the redesigned exhibits will highlight the Museum’s world-class assets while reflecting its role as a trusted community resource. The Museum appreciates the generous support from community members, corporations, foundations, and government grants that has helped to make this transformation a reality.
About the Cleveland Museum of Natural History
The Cleveland Museum of Natural History illuminates the world around us and inspires visitors to engage with the natural forces that shape their lives. Since its founding in 1920, the Museum has pioneered scientific research to advance knowledge across diverse fields of study and used its outstanding collections, which encompass more than 5 million artifacts and specimens, to deepen the public’s understanding of the dynamic connections between humans and nature. Through its Natural Areas Program, the Museum stewards more than 12,000 acres of protected ecosystems across northern Ohio. A community gathering place, educational center, and research institution, the Museum is a vital resource that serves Cleveland and the nation. For more information, visit CMNH.org.
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Cleveland Museum of Natural History
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