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
Tags
woodworking
archaeology
early hominins
Kalambo Falls
Zambia
wood tools
technical cognition
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