- Oldest Wooden Structure: Zambia, 476,000 years.
- Early Human Carpentry.
- Archaeological Breakthrough.
Archaeologists have made an astonishing find that sheds light on the earliest human craftsmanship, dating back nearly half a million years.
This remarkable discovery suggests that ancient humans were engaged in carpentry and building with wood far earlier than previously believed.
The discovery of two logs interlaced with a carefully created notch at Kalambo Falls in Zambia was remarkable. Additionally, a collection of wooden tools was unearthed in the same vicinity. Remarkably, tool marks were found on both logs.
Experts propose that these early carpenters might have employed these logs to construct a raised platform or walkway, possibly as a means to stay dry in the periodically inundated floodplain. There’s also speculation that the wooden structure could have served as an early foundation for primitive dwellings.
Dating back approximately 476,000 years, this wooden structure represents a pioneering use of wood in construction, as reported in a research paper published in the prestigious journal Nature.
Surviving wooden artifacts from the Early Stone Age are exceedingly rare due to the conditions necessary to prevent wood from rotting away.
These antique wooden pieces survived due to high water levels in the region.
Professor Larry Barham, who spearheaded this groundbreaking research at the University of Liverpool, expressed his excitement, stating, “This discovery has transformed my perspective on our early ancestors. It’s time to move beyond the ‘Stone Age’ label and recognize the ingenuity of these individuals. They made something remarkable from wood, a material they had never seen before.”
Barham continued, “They harnessed their intelligence, imagination, and craftsmanship to improve their lives. Even if it was simply by fashioning a platform by the river to facilitate their daily tasks. This revelation brings us closer to these ancient people and underscores their remarkable similarities to us.
Researchers found the world’s oldest wooden structure, revealing carpentry and woodworking’s 476,000-year origins. This groundbreaking discovery challenges conventional notions about early human capabilities and showcases their remarkable ability to adapt and innovate with the resources at hand.
