A groundbreaking discovery in Zambia has unveiled the oldest wooden structure known to humanity, predating Homo sapiens’ appearance in Africa. Researchers recently published their findings in Nature, revealing the presence of two interlocking logs connected by a carefully crafted notch, dating back an astonishing 476,000 years. This remarkable construction challenges previous notions of the technical capabilities of pre-Homo sapiens hominins, suggesting that they possessed a capacity for planning and constructing complex wooden structures.
The unique wooden artifacts were unearthed at Kalambo Falls, Zambia, which has yielded invaluable insights into human history. The researchers utilized luminescence dating to precisely determine the age of these findings, with the wooden objects dating to around 476,000 years ago. Additional wooden tools were discovered alongside the interlocking logs, shedding light on the diversity of forms and the early mastery of shaping tree trunks into functional structures. These findings push back the timeline of woodworking in Africa and prompt a reevaluation of the role of trees in the evolution of technology, highlighting the remarkable technical cognition of our early ancestors.
The significance of this discovery lies not only in its age but also in its potential to change our understanding of early human capabilities. The findings suggest that wood played a crucial role in the technological development of prehistoric societies, and the waterlogged conditions at Kalambo Falls offer a unique opportunity to explore waterlogged sites for further evidence of woodworking. This unprecedented archaeological breakthrough opens a new window into the ingenuity and resourcefulness of ancient hominins, paving the way for further investigations into the history of wooden technology.
References
- Barham, L., Duller, G. a. T., Candy, I., Scott, C., Cartwright, C. R., Peterson, J. R., Kabukcu, C., Chapot, M. S., Melia, F., Rots, V., George, N., Taipale, N., Gethin, P., & Nkombwe, P. (2023). Evidence for the earliest structural use of wood at least 476,000 years ago. Nature, 1–5. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-023-06557-9
- Owen, C. (2023, September 20). Archaeologists discover world’s oldest wooden structure. University of Liverpool News. https://news.liverpool.ac.uk/2023/09/20/archaeologists-discover-worlds-oldest-wooden-structure/
- Sullivan, W. (2023, September 22). Archaeologists Uncover Notched Logs That May Be the Oldest Known Wooden Structure. Smithsonian Magazine. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/archaeologists-uncover-notched-logs-that-may-be-the-oldest-known-wooden-structure-180982942/
