Early humans in Africa crafted logs to fit together for construction.
In Europe, oldest preserved hunting weapons found in Schöningen, Germany, dating back to around 300,000 years ago.
Neanderthals used sophisticated wooden tools for hunting big game.
Oldest man-made wooden structures discovered in Africa at Kalambo Falls, Zambia, dating back to at least 476,000 years ago.
In the annals of human history, discoveries continue to challenge our understanding and rewrite the narrative. Two recent findings, one from Africa and another from Europe, have shed new light on early humans' technological prowess and cognitive abilities that were previously underestimated. Let us delve into these intriguing discoveries.
Firstly, in Africa, researchers unearthed the oldest man-made wooden structures at Kalambo Falls in Zambia. These structures date back to at least 476,000 years ago and represent the earliest evidence of deliberate crafting of logs to fit together. Professor Larry Barham from the University of Liverpool and his team analyzed these well-preserved wood remains, revealing that early humans shaped and joined two large logs to make a structure. This discovery challenges our perception that such complex construction was only possible during later periods in human history.
Secondly, in Europe, German archaeologist Thomas Terberger uncovered the oldest preserved hunting weapons dating back to around 300,000 years ago. These wooden tools include spears and throwing sticks and were discovered at a site in Schöningen, Germany. The findings challenge the traditional view of prehistory that categorizes periods based on tool materials (Stone Age to Bronze Age to Iron Age). Early Neanderthals were using these sophisticated tools to hunt big game around 300,000 years ago.
These discoveries underscore the importance of ongoing research and exploration in archaeology. They remind us that our understanding of human history is ever-evolving and that there is always more to learn about our ancestors' lives and achievements.
In 1836, Christian Jørgensen Thomsen suggested the basic chronology of Stone Age to Bronze Age to Iron Age.
Thomas Terberger suggests that wooden tools have been around just as long as stone ones, but preservation bias makes their existence less evident.
The Schöningen site contains the oldest preserved hunting weapons dated around 300,00 years ago.
From 33 feet away, Neanderthals hit the target 25% of the time with replicas of these spears.
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The article contains an appeal to authority fallacy when the author states 'Thomas Terberger, an archaeologist and head of research at the Department of Cultural Heritage of Lower Saxony, in Germany' suggests that wooden tools have been around just as long as stone ones. This is not a logical conclusion based on evidence presented in the article. The author also uses inflammatory rhetoric when stating 'It turned out that these pre-Homo sapiens had fashioned tools and weapons to hunt big game.' This statement is an overgeneralization and assumes all early humans were capable of this level of toolmaking, which may not be true.
][Thomas Terberger] We can probably assume that wooden tools have been around just as long as stone ones, that is, 2[u00BD] or 3 million years.[/]
[The author] It turned out that these pre-Homo sapiens had fashioned tools and weapons to hunt big game.
Approximately 476,000-year-old wooden structure discovered at Kalambo Falls, Zambia
Early hominins possessed greater cognitive abilities and technological sophistication than previously believed due to the discovery of ancient woodworking artifacts
The unique conditions at Kalambo Falls enabled the preservation of ancient woodworking artifacts for scientists to study
Ancient wooden logs exhibit signs of modification, including notching, tapering, scraping, and potential evidence of burning
Intentional notches on the logs suggest that these early hominins designed and assembled them into a larger structure
German archaeologist Thomas Terberger discovered the oldest preserved hunting weapons, which are wooden spears and throwing sticks, dating back to 300,000 years ago.
The wooden tools were carved from hard and flexible spruce, pine, or larch and date back to the time when Neanderthals were supplanting their direct ancestors of Homo heidelbergensis.
Researchers found evidence of tool maintenance and recycling among the discovered wooden artifacts.
The oldest man-made wooden structures in the world have been found in Africa, dating back to the Early Stone Age.
These structures are the earliest evidence of deliberate crafting of logs to fit together.
They were discovered at the archaeological site of Kalambo Falls in Zambia and date back at least 476,000 years.
Expert analysis shows that early humans shaped and joined two large logs to make a structure, possibly a foundation or part of a dwelling.
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The author makes an appeal to authority with the quotes from Professor Larry Barham and Professor Geoff Duller. However, this is not a fallacy as they are experts in their fields and their opinions add credibility to the findings.
The research team explained that at Kalambo Falls human ancestors not only had a perennial source of water, but the forest around them provided enough food to enable them to settle and make structures. Liverpool University professor Larry Barham, who leads the ‘Deep Roots of Humanity’ project, said:
They used luminescence dating techniques, which reveal the last time minerals in the sand surrounding the finds were exposed to sunlight, to determine their age. Professor Geoff Duller, from Aberystwyth University, said:
