Leopard tooth marks found on the bones of our ancient ancestors reveal that humans did not rise to the top of the food chain as quickly as previously thought, a study has found.
Early humans had to survive in the wild alongside a range of fearsome beasts, including extinct creatures such as sabre-toothed tigers and dire wolves and those more familiar to us today, such as eagles, crocodiles and lions.
It was thought that the primates that existed before the evolution of the first human species were regularly preyed upon by such beasts, but that early humans, including homo habilis, became advanced enough to develop into predatory carnivores themselves. This led them to rise to the top of the food chain, learning to fend off attacks and avoid becoming dinner for other predators.
Homo habilis sharpened rocks to cut up game or scrape hides. The game would be trapped in a pit or run down by several men
BROWN BEAR/WINDMILL BOOKS/UNIVERSAL IMAGES GROUP/GETTY IMAGES
