New 2025 Findings Reshape Early Human and Chimpanzee History

2025 Revelations Rewrite Human Evolution and Chimpanzee Intelligence

New discoveries in 2025 have reshaped our understanding of early human evolution and primate behaviour. Researchers uncovered fresh evidence about ancient tool use, bipedal species, and surprising cognitive abilities in chimpanzees. These findings span from Kenya to the Czech Republic, offering insights into both extinct hominins and living primates.

In October 2025, a study led by Jesse Martin of La Trobe University in Melbourne revealed that Paranthropus—a robust hominin from 2.3 to 1.7 million years ago—likely did not use stone tools. The team, including researchers from the University of Johannesburg, linked this to the species’ hand structure. Meanwhile, near Lake Turkana in Kenya, archaeologists confirmed the oldest continuous production of Oldowan tools, dating back 2.75 million years.

That same month, chimpanzees demonstrated advanced decision-making skills in a separate study. Another 2025 observation showed they could infer human mental states and adjust their behaviour accordingly. In West Africa’s Antankarana National Park, wild chimps were even seen sharing fermented fruit with alcohol levels up to 0.61%. In November 2025, the mysterious Burtele foot—unearthed in Ethiopia in 2012—was finally linked to Australopithecus deyiremeda. Earlier, in August, a cache of 29 stone artifacts was found in the Czech Republic, possibly stored in a perishable container. The same year, a fully bipedal Paranthropus robustus adult, standing just 1.03 metres tall, was analysed in detail.

These findings add crucial details to the story of human ancestry and primate intelligence. The studies on Paranthropus and Australopithecus refine our knowledge of early hominins, while the chimpanzee research highlights unexpected cognitive parallels. Together, they provide a clearer picture of how tool use, social behaviour, and physical adaptations evolved over millions of years.