There has been an unexpected discovery at Kalambo Falls, in Zambia, where it was hardly possible for the item to preserve its properties for a long period of time. Therefore, providing historical evidence was a much more difficult task. However, the two wooden logs were found placed by the means of a perfect notch under the waterlogged soil. The reason why this discovery should be regarded as valuable is the speed at which wood decomposes in comparison to our ability to make an important find.
At first sight, this artifact does not appear to be particularly unique. However, there is a detail about the find that greatly affected the way we think about our ancestors. The artifact, which is reportedly 476,000 years old, is significantly older than homo sapiens, according to a recent study published in Nature in 2023. Therefore, the wooden tool used by man is regarded as the oldest one discovered by researchers.
There were no logs
As one can clearly observe, logs were hardly the most important thing about the discovery mentioned above. The crucial thing was how the logs had been used to create this artifact. In order to join two wooden pieces together, there was used stone-cutting technology, while traces left on the items proved that this kind of materials has been subjected to manual processing.
As scientists state, the arrangement of the elements was not random. To be more specific, one of the participants of the research, the University of Liverpool, expressed his opinion that the structure could have been used in platform and even dwelling buildings. Commenting on the findings, Professor Larry Barham, the head of the investigation, stated that the discoveries proved the ability of early humans to make something new based on their imagination and talent.
The reason why this citation is significant is related to the fact that it can clarify the value of the finding from the point of view of archaeology, which has always concentrated its efforts on stone structures due to poor survivability of the wooden ones.
Why is this discovery unique?
Wood from ancient times usually disappears due to decay, insects, and weather changes. The Kalambo Falls location became exceptional as a wet climate allowed for the preservation of wood for many centuries. According to the Smithsonian Human Origins Program, the constantly damp conditions helped preserve various organic artifacts that were otherwise lost to time.
According to Nature's article about this discovery, the wooden structure made by prehistoric humans was the earliest of its kind. This discovery indicates that ancient humans used wood more often than archaeologists thought before. Unfortunately, most of the examples probably vanished already.
