Stick shaped by ancient humans is the oldest known wooden tool

Unearthing the Past: Ancient Wooden Tools Reveal Prehistoric Ingenuity

In a groundbreaking discovery that has sent ripples through the archaeological community, researchers have unearthed the oldest known wooden tools in an opencast mine in Greece. Dating back an astonishing 430,000 years, these tools offer a rare glimpse into the lives of our ancient human ancestors—possibly the predecessors of Neanderthals—and their remarkable ability to manipulate their environment with skill and precision.

The discovery was made at a site called Marathousa 1, located in the Megalopolis basin of southern Greece. This site, first identified in 2013, has proven to be a treasure trove of prehistoric artifacts. The opencast lignite mine exposed layers of sediments dating back nearly a million years, providing researchers with unprecedented access to ancient materials that would otherwise remain buried.

During excavations conducted between 2013 and 2019, the team uncovered a wealth of evidence of early human activity. Among the most significant finds was the near-complete skeleton of a straight-tusked elephant (Palaeoloxodon antiquus), which bore clear signs of butchery. Alongside the elephant remains, the researchers found over 2,000 stone tools, as well as the bones and plants of various aquatic and near-aquatic species, including hippopotamuses. This suggests that the site was once a thriving lake shore, offering a rich and diverse ecosystem for early humans to exploit.

But it was the discovery of wooden tools that truly captured the imagination of the scientific community. Out of 144 pieces of wood recovered from the site, two stood out as clear examples of purposeful tool-making. The first is an 81-centimeter-long stick made from the trunk of an alder tree. Most of the bark had been removed, and the wood bore numerous carving and chopping marks, indicating that it had been deliberately shaped. One end of the stick is more rounded, possibly serving as a handle, while the other end is flattened and shows signs of fraying and splintering.

The function of this tool remains a subject of speculation. Archaeologist Katerina Harvati, who led the research team, suggests that it may have been used for digging, perhaps to unearth underground tubers for food. However, its discovery within the elephant bones hints at another possibility—it may have been used to help process the carcass. “I don’t really know what they were doing with it,” Harvati admits, highlighting the mystery that still surrounds these ancient artifacts.

The second wooden tool is even more enigmatic. Measuring just 5.7 centimeters in length and 1.2 to 1.5 centimeters in width, this small piece of willow or poplar has also been stripped of its bark and shows signs of purposeful shaping. “This is a completely new type of wooden tool,” Harvati says. While it may have been used for retouching stone tools, its exact purpose remains unclear. “We don’t really know what it was for,” she adds.

The discovery of these tools is particularly significant because wooden artifacts are extremely rare in the archaeological record. Wood decomposes quickly, making it difficult to preserve over millennia. As a result, our understanding of how early humans used wood is limited. “Prehistoric wooden artifacts are very scarce,” says archaeologist Dirk Leder, who was not involved in the study. “Every single find is welcome.”

The age of the tools was determined using multiple dating methods, including the analysis of past shifts in Earth’s magnetic field and the testing of when grains were last exposed to sunlight. The results indicate that the tools are approximately 430,000 years old, dating back to a time when Europe was experiencing one of its most severe glacial episodes. Despite the harsh climate, the Megalopolis basin may have served as a refuge, offering a relatively milder environment for early humans to survive and thrive.

The identity of the toolmakers remains a mystery. No hominin remains have been found at Marathousa 1, but given the age of the site, it is likely that the tools were made by a species predating our own, possibly Homo heidelbergensis or an early form of Neanderthal. “A first hypothesis is that what we have here is a type of pre-Neanderthal, or Homo heidelbergensis,” Harvati says. However, she cautions against making definitive assumptions, noting that Greece was a crossroads for many groups of hominins over the millennia.

The significance of this discovery extends beyond the tools themselves. It challenges our understanding of early human behavior and highlights the ingenuity of our ancient ancestors. Wooden tools, though rarely preserved, were likely a staple of prehistoric life. “It might be the oldest type of tool that anybody used,” Harvati says. The ability to shape and use wood represents a crucial step in human evolution, enabling early humans to adapt to their environment and develop more complex technologies.

This discovery also places Marathousa 1 in the context of other significant archaeological finds. The Clacton Spear in the UK, which may be around 400,000 years old, and the wooden spears from Schöningen, Germany, are among the few other examples of ancient wooden tools. However, recent studies have suggested that the Schöningen spears may be younger than previously thought, potentially dating to around 200,000 years ago. The tools from Marathousa 1, therefore, represent some of the oldest known examples of wooden tool-making.

Even older are the wooden artifacts from Kalambo Falls in Zambia, which date back 476,000 years. These artifacts appear to be the remains of larger structures or buildings, suggesting that early humans were not only using wood for tools but also for constructing shelters and other functional objects.

The discovery at Marathousa 1 is a testament to the power of archaeology to uncover the hidden stories of our past. It reminds us that the history of human innovation is far richer and more complex than we often realize. As researchers continue to study these ancient tools, they will undoubtedly shed new light on the lives of our prehistoric ancestors and the remarkable journey that has led to the modern world.

Tags: #Archaeology #PrehistoricTools #AncientHumans #Neanderthals #WoodenTools #Greece #Megalopolis #HomoHeidelbergensis #Paleolithic #Innovation #HumanEvolution #ScienceDiscovery #ViralScience #HistoryUncovered #AncientTechnology

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