Oldest Wooden Tools Discovered in Greece Provide Insight into Ancient Human Tool Use

Researchers have uncovered the oldest wooden tools in Greece, dating back 430,000 years. These artifacts shed light on ancient human tool-making practices and their preservation conditions.

Two ancient wooden tools have been discovered at a lakeside in Greece, dating back 430,000 years. One tool is a slender stick, about 2.5 feet long, possibly used for digging. The other is a smaller piece of willow or poplar wood, which might have been used to shape stone tools. This discovery was detailed in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Wooden tools from ancient times are rare finds due to wood's tendency to decay quickly. They are usually preserved only in specific conditions such as ice, caves, or underwater environments. The tools found in Greece's Megalopolis basin were likely preserved by being rapidly buried in sediment and maintained by a wet environment over time.

Ancient Tools and Their Preservation

Researchers have previously uncovered various remnants at this site, including stone tools and elephant bones with cut marks. Although the wooden tools themselves weren't directly dated, the site is estimated to be around 430,000 years old, providing an approximate age for these artifacts.

Study author Annemieke Milks from the University of Reading expressed excitement about handling these ancient objects. "I've always just been thrilled to be able to touch these objects," Milks stated. However, human remains have not yet been found at the site, leaving uncertainty about who used these tools.

Potential Users and Comparisons

The tools' users could have been Neanderthals, early human ancestors, or another group entirely. Archaeologist Jarod Hutson from the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History noted that more historical treasures might still be hidden at this Greek site. However, the simple appearance of these tools makes them challenging to interpret.

"It's difficult to get excited about these because they don't strike you immediately as wooden tools. And we don't know what they were used for," said Hutson, who did not participate in the study.

Insights into Early Human Technology

This discovery provides a rare glimpse into the diverse array of tools early humans used for survival. Study author Katerina Harvati from the University of Tubingen highlighted this aspect in an email: "The new find offers a rare look into the varied collection of tools used to survive — a glimpse at a 'little known aspect of the technology of early humans.'" Other ancient wooden tools include spears from Germany and 300,000-year-old digging sticks from China that may have been used for plant harvesting.

With inputs from PTI