Researchers in southern Greece have made an exciting discovery: the oldest known handheld wooden tools, dating back around 430,000 years. These tools were found at Marathousa 1, a site in the Megalopolis Basin of the central Peloponnese. This area was once a lakeshore during the Middle Pleistocene, a time that spanned from 774,000 to 129,000 years ago.
Excavations at the site have unearthed stone flakes, animal bones with cut marks, and even the remains of a straight-tusked elephant. Archaeologists believe early humans visited this location to process large animal carcasses near the water. The unique waterlogged conditions preserved the wood that would typically decay over time.
The research team analyzed many wood fragments using microscopes, looking at surface marks and inner structures. They aimed to differentiate between tool-making signs and natural damage. Notably, two fragments showed clear evidence of human shaping.
The first piece, made from alder, has cut marks suggesting it was used as a digging stick. This kind of tool would have been handy for loosening wet soil or gathering plant foods. The second fragment, possibly from willow or poplar, appears to be a small, finely crafted tool, likely used for delicate tasks like adjusting stone flakes during tool production.
Interestingly, one of the alder pieces had deep grooves, presumably made by a large carnivore, probably a bear. This suggests that humans and large predators were both active at the lakeshore, possibly competing for access to the same carcasses.
Before this discovery, the oldest handheld wooden tools were found in Africa, Europe, and Asia but were all younger than these Greek artifacts. Another notable find, a wooden structure from Kalambo Falls in Zambia, is about 476,000 years old but not considered a handheld tool. The Marathousa tools push back the record for shaped wooden artifacts by over 40,000 years and represent the first such evidence from southeastern Europe.
These findings indicate sophisticated knowledge of local trees, such as alder, willow, and poplar, which thrived in wet environments. Along with stone and bone artifacts from the same layers, these wooden tools highlight the technical skills and environmental adaptation of early humans during the Middle Pleistocene.
This research not only illuminates our understanding of prehistoric tool use but has also sparked discussions on social media. Many users express amazement at how ancient technologies show the intelligence and adaptability of our ancestors.
For those curious about further reading, you can find the detailed study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences here.
Source link
Pleistocene,Stone Tools
