Humanities

Evidence for the earliest structural use of wood at least 476,000 years ago

L. Barham, G. A. T. Duller, et al.

Discover groundbreaking insights from researchers L. Barham, G. A. T. Duller, and others as they reveal the earliest evidence of wood's structural use, dating back 476,000 years at Kalambo Falls, Zambia. This remarkable discovery reshapes our understanding of early hominin technical skills.

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Abstract

This paper presents the earliest evidence for the structural use of wood in the archaeological record, found at Kalambo Falls, Zambia. Waterlogged deposits, dated to at least 476,000 years ago, revealed two interlocking logs joined by an intentionally cut notch, a construction without known parallels. The site also yielded four wood tools dating from 390,000 to 324,000 years ago. These findings significantly extend the known age of woodworking in Africa and broaden our understanding of early hominin technical cognition.

Publisher

Nature

Published On

Sep 20, 2023

Authors

L. Barham, G. A. T. Duller, I. Candy, C. Scott, C. R. Cartwright, J. R. Peterson, C. Kabukcu, M. S. Chapot, F. Melia, V. Rots, N. George, N. Taipale, P. Gethin, P. Nkombwe

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