Discoveries in China: Archaeologists Unearth 300,000-Year-Old Wooden Tools Preserved in Clay

Archaeologists in southern China made a remarkable discovery: a set of wooden tools dating back up to 300,000 years. This find, at the Paleolithic site of Gantangqing, marks the oldest known wooden implements in East Asia.

Wooden tools have been part of human history for over a million years. However, they often don’t survive long due to their organic nature. Before this discovery, only two other instances of prehistoric wooden tools were recorded—one each in Europe and Africa, both used for hunting.

The tools from Gantangqing seem to be different. Initial studies suggest they were designed for gathering and processing plants. This indicates that ancient people were skilled at utilizing their environment, knowing which plants to harvest and how best to process them.

Researchers found 35 tools buried in soil layers aged between 250,000 and 300,000 years. These artifacts reveal a significant level of sophistication compared to primitive stone tools from the same period. One type resembles large shovels, used for digging, while other smaller, hook-shaped tools were likely crafted for slicing through roots.

Some tools had rounded sides and pointed tips, suggesting they might have served specialized purposes, possibly as awls for separating tangled roots. The variety of tools hints at a complex understanding of plant harvesting techniques among the ancient inhabitants.

Yet, there’s still uncertainty about who crafted these tools. Around this time, modern humans, or Homo sapiens, were in Africa but hadn’t yet spread into Asia. This leaves three main contenders: Homo erectus, Denisovans, and Homo heidelbergensis, a shared ancestor of modern humans and Neanderthals.

Homo erectus had inhabited Asia for over a million years but had not been associated with creating such advanced tools. The Denisovans and Homo heidelbergensis are more promising candidates, but researchers are still piecing together their history.

Interestingly, a 2022 study found that tools made by Denisovans were previously thought to lack sophistication. The Gantangqing tools challenge this view. They show that early humans were far more skilled than previously thought.

In today’s context, the discovery highlights how early humans adapted to their environments, which can inform our understanding of modern-day challenges in food sustainability and resource management.

For more insights into the prehistoric era and human evolution, you might find it interesting to explore related topics like the Terracotta Army or delve deeper into ancient Chinese history.



Source link