An international research team, spearheaded by scientists from the University of Reading, the University of Tübingen, and the Senckenberg Nature Research Society, has made a remarkable discovery at the Marathousa 1 archaeological site in central Greece's Peloponnese region. These ancient artifacts, dating back approximately 430,000 years, represent the oldest known wooden tools utilized by humans.
Published in the journal PNAS, the study details two expertly crafted wooden objects. One artifact is fashioned from alder wood, while the other is derived from either willow or poplar. This groundbreaking find extends the timeline for wooden tool usage by at least 40,000 years, offering new insights into early human innovation.
The archaeological site also revealed stone tools and the remains of elephants and other fauna, indicating that early humans used this location for butchering animals near the shores of an ancient lake. Occupied during the Middle Pleistocene, a significant era in human evolution, this site is crucial for understanding the development of complex behaviors.
Professor Katerina Harvati, a paleoanthropologist and leader of the long-term research program at Marathousa 1, emphasizes, "The Middle Pleistocene was a pivotal period in human evolution, marked by the emergence of more sophisticated behaviors. The earliest evidence of targeted technological use of plants also originates from this time."
Woodworking Skills of Ancient Humans
Previous excavations at Marathousa 1 had already showcased a variety of stone and bone artifacts, revealing the advanced skills of the inhabitants. This led the research team to meticulously analyze preserved wooden remains found during their digs.
Dr. Annemieke Milks, an expert in early wooden tools, notes, "Unlike stones, wooden objects require specific conditions to survive over extended periods. We examined the wooden remains under microscopes and identified clear signs of chopping and carving on two objects, indicating that early humans skillfully shaped them."
One artifact, a small piece of an alder branch, exhibited distinct shaping marks and wear, suggesting it may have been employed for digging in soft earth or stripping tree bark. The second artifact, a smaller section of willow or poplar, also displayed evidence of human use.
Insights into a Competitive Ecosystem
Interestingly, not all marked wood at the site was crafted by humans. Researchers discovered a larger alder fragment with grooves that were determined to be the result of a large carnivore, likely a bear, rather than human activity.
While wooden tools have been found in various locations such as the UK, Zambia, Germany, and China, they are all more recent than those from Marathousa 1. The only older evidence of wood use dates to around 476,000 years ago at the Kalambo Falls site in Zambia, where wood served structural purposes rather than as tools.
"Our findings represent the oldest known wooden tools and the first evidence of this type from southeastern Europe," Harvati states. "This highlights the exceptional preservation conditions at Marathousa 1 and suggests a fierce competition between early humans and large carnivores in their environment."
This collaborative research effort also included contributions from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, the University of Ioannina, the Hellenic Ministry of Culture, and the American School of Classical Studies at Athens, supported by the European Research Council and the German Science Foundation.
