In Greece, an exceptional archaeological discovery reveals that tools were in use approximately 430,000 years ago. Carefully analyzed fragments of worked wood are pushing back the boundaries of our knowledge of ancient technologies.
The analysis of these objects, carried out by an international team, indicates they were shaped from alder and poplar or willow. Furthermore, cut marks and signs of wear, observed under a microscope, attest to intentional manufacture and use by human groups of the Middle Paleolithic.
Representation of a Paleolithic woman making a digging stick from an alder trunk. This type of wood was used at the Marathousa 1 site.
Credit: G. Prieto, K. Harvati.
These remains were unearthed at the Marathousa 1 site in the Peloponnese. This location was once the shores of a lake, frequented by humans and large animals, as evidenced by the remains of an elephant. It was likely an area for butchering and daily activities.
Examination of the surfaces under a microscope made it possible to distinguish marks left by stone tools from those left by animals. One piece of alder shows cut striations and wear that could correspond to a digging stick. A smaller fragment, made of softwood, also shows signs of human work.
A small wooden tool discovered at Marathousa 1, its exact function yet to be determined.
Credit: N. Thompson, K. Harvati. This Greek discovery takes on a particular significance on a global scale. Although older wooden structures have been identified in Zambia, the Marathousa 1 tools are currently the oldest known portable wooden objects, predating other examples by at least 40,000 years. They thus add a new piece to the dossier of technological evolution in Southeastern Europe.
The exceptional preservation of these organic materials at this site is an important factor. It contrasts with the general scarcity of wooden remains from this period. Researchers also note the concurrent presence of traces of human activity and large carnivores, showing a sometimes competitive sharing of space and resources in prehistory.
Why is wood so rarely preserved?
The survival of wood over hundreds of thousands of years is a rare event, as this organic material degrades naturally. Very particular environmental conditions are required for it to escape rot caused by microorganisms and insects.
A water-saturated, oxygen-poor environment, like the bottom of an ancient lake or a peat bog, is often conducive. Permanent humidity prevents aerobic decomposition, and minerals present in the water can impregnate the wood, partially mineralizing and strengthening it.
The Marathousa 1 site likely benefited from such conditions. The absence of oxygen and a suitable pH may have created an anoxic environment, preserving the wood fragments from total degradation. These particular circumstances offer unique glimpses into aspects of human behavior generally invisible in the archaeological record.