Homo habilis, whose name means “handy man,” is widely regarded as the first species of human ancestors to demonstrate more purposeful and skilled toolmaking. Although their ancestors had been using basic stone tools for about a million years, Homo habilis advanced these techniques, crafting Oldowan tools for specific purposes like skinning animals, chopping bones to access marrow, and cutting plants. This leap in technology reflects not only their increased cognitive ability, supported by a brain size 20 to 50% larger than modern chimpanzees, but also their adaptive versatility in different environments.

By 1.8 million years ago, Homo habilis also became the first known hominins to use toothpicks, evidenced by grooves in fossilized teeth, marking an important behavioral step toward dental hygiene. Their flexible diet, improved tool use, and ability to adapt to diverse challenges positioned them as a key milestone in the evolution of early humans.

A more primate looking Homo habilis from about 1.84 million years ago using the first toothpicks to keep his teeth clean.