Manuport facts for kids

Imagine you're walking in the woods and find a cool, smooth stone. You pick it up and carry it home because you like how it looks or feels. Even though you didn't change the stone, you moved it from its original spot. In the world of archaeology and anthropology, that stone would be called a manuport.

The word 'manuport' comes from two old Latin words: manus, which means 'hand', and portare, which means 'to carry'. So, it literally means 'something carried by hand'.

What is a Manuport?

A manuport is a natural object that a person has moved from its original place. The important part is that the object itself has not been changed or shaped by tools. It's just a natural item that someone decided to pick up and carry somewhere else.

Examples of Manuports

Manuports can be many different things. For example, they might be:

• Stones or shells that were moved far away from a coast or river.
• Pebbles found in places where that type of rock doesn't naturally exist.

These objects are interesting to scientists because they show that someone, perhaps even a very early human ancestor, interacted with their environment in a unique way.

Ancient Discoveries

Scientists believe that some of the earliest manuports were moved by hominins. These were the ancient relatives of humans. Sometimes, these early hominins might have picked up natural objects just because they looked interesting or had a pleasing shape.

One very famous example is the Makapansgat pebble. This pebble has natural markings that look like "staring eyes" and other facial features. It was found in a cave in Makapansgat, South Africa. What makes it special is that it was deposited by a hominid around 3,000,000 BC! This means it was picked up and carried by one of our very ancient ancestors.

Why are Manuports Important?

Manuports help archaeologists and anthropologists understand how ancient people lived and thought. They can tell us about:

• Early human behavior: Why did ancient people pick up these objects? Was it for curiosity, decoration, or something else?
• Travel and movement: Finding a manuport far from its natural source can show us how far ancient groups traveled.
• Supporting theories: Manuports have even been used to support big ideas, like the theory of the Bering Land Bridge. This theory suggests that ancient people crossed a land bridge between Asia and North America. Finding certain stones or objects on one side that naturally belong on the other can help prove this idea.

By studying these simple, untouched objects, we can learn a lot about the lives and minds of people who lived millions of years ago.