Final answer:
The hypothesis that Australopithecus africanus created the Oldowan tool culture was suggested by Raymond Dart, but evidence indicates that Homo habilis was the likely creator of these tools. The Oldowan culture marks an essential period in early hominin tool-making and possibly the development of early forms of communication.
Step-by-step explanation:
The hypothesis that Australopithecus africanus created the Oldowan tool culture was put forth by Raymond Dart, an Australian anatomist, and anthropologist. Dart discovered the first australopithecine in 1924. It is important to note, however, that archaeological evidence and subsequent research suggest that it was likely Homo habilis who began creating the Oldowan stone tools approximately 2.5 million years ago. The Oldowan culture is characterized by basic stone choppers and cores from which flakes have been removed, used primarily for butchering carcasses. This discovery was fundamental to understanding early hominin tool-making and culture.
The ability for hominins to imitate each other's actions is believed to have been essential in the development and propagation of these tools, according to theories proposed by neuroscientist Michael Arbib. Arbib argues that this imitation could have been a precursor to more complex forms of communication, gestural language, and eventually spoken language among early human ancestors. Australopithecus africanus, despite not being definitively linked to the Oldowan tool industry, played a significant role in our understanding of human evolution and is notable for its skeletal structure that suggests upright walking.