In Greece, two fascinating wooden artifacts have been found that date back an incredible 430,000 years. They were discovered near a lake in the Megalopolis basin. One tool resembles a long stick, about 2.5 feet (80 cm) long, likely used for digging. The other is smaller and trickier to interpret, possibly used for shaping stone tools.
Historically, wooden tools are rare finds. Wood tends to decay quickly, making it hard to find evidence of how our ancestors lived. Typically, such tools can only survive in specific conditions, like ice, caves, or underwater. In this case, the wet environment and sediment likely helped preserve these tools over the ages.
Annemieke Milks, a study author from the University of Reading, expressed her excitement about handling these ancient items. However, the site has yet to reveal any human remains, so we can’t be sure who made these tools. They could belong to Neanderthals or early human ancestors.
Archaeologist Jarod Hutson from the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History noted that despite their humble appearance, these tools offer intriguing insights into our ancestors’ technological range. “It’s difficult to get excited about these because they don’t strike you immediately as wooden tools,” he said, “And we don’t know what they were used for.”
Wooden tools from other finds, such as spears from Germany and digging sticks from China, shed some light on early human activities. These discoveries highlight the diversity of tools used by our ancestors, offering a glimpse into their survival strategies.
According to a recent study, understanding these tools illuminates the little-known aspects of early human technology. As more artifacts are uncovered, they could tell richer stories about our past.
For further reading, check out the original research published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
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