eolith

Eoliths are very crudely chipped flints, considered to be among the earliest tools used by humans, dating back to the dawn of the Stone Age. The term "Eolithic" describes the period marked by the use of these rudimentary tools.12

While once thought to be evidence of human presence in earlier epochs, stones with sharp fractures found in pre-Pleistocene layers are now understood to be naturally fractured by geological forces like glacier pressure or wave action. However, primitive peoples likely used these naturally formed stones before deliberately shaping similar rocks. Distinguishing between naturally fractured and human-flaked stones is possible through detailed criteria, often supported by the presence of detached flakes or hammerstones.3

These early tools, along with primitive hammers and anvils, represent the initial stages of toolmaking, with the chopper being a versatile implement used for various tasks such as hacking, mashing, cutting, and scraping.3