Neanderthal Wooden Tools Found Preserved in Stone in Spain
Archaeologists in Spain have discovered 597 stone-preserved wooden artifacts made by Neanderthals, dating from 62,000 to 40,000 years ago. The find offers new insights into prehistoric woodworking.
Archaeologists excavating the Abric Romaní rock shelter in Capellades, Spain, have cataloged 597 wooden artifacts crafted by Neanderthals between 62,000 and 40,000 years ago. These items, including spears, digging sticks, and shelter components, survived due to a unique preservation process where mineral-rich water coated the wood, forming a limestone-like crust as it decayed.
The discovery is significant because wood decomposes rapidly, leaving a scarcity of wooden tools from the Paleolithic era. Among the findings is a club of an unfamiliar design, suggesting Neanderthals possessed more advanced tool-making capabilities than previously understood.
The study, published in Science Advances, details the range of wooden objects, indicating Neanderthals utilized wood for various purposes beyond just hunting gear. This provides a deeper understanding of their daily lives and technological skills.
Unlike other well-preserved wooden finds, such as spears from Schöningen, Germany, which were preserved in anaerobic sediments, the Abric Romaní artifacts demonstrate a different preservation mechanism and offer new perspectives on woodworking during the Middle Paleolithic period.