The earliest tools which have survived the wear of time were made of stone.
As man's techniques of handling stone improved, so did his tools.

The hand axe, a large oval of chipped flint varying in size and weight, came into common usage about half a million years ago, and it has been found in much of Europe, Asia, and Africa.

This too seems to have had an African origin.

While scholars are not certain about its use, it was probably used for killing animals and for chopping meat.
The first achievement which radically altered man's condition was the invention of tools.

The second achievement was his learning of primitive agriculture which transformed the hunter into the farmer.