Neanderthal Wooden Tools Discovered in Spain Preserved in Stone

<p>The Stone Age is named for tools that have survived to modern times. However, early humans likely worked primarily with wood, which is easier to process but decays quickly, resulting in limited knowledge about Paleolithic woodwork. At Abric Romaní, a rock shelter in Capellades, west of Barcelona, mineral-rich water has coated wooden Neanderthal tools in a limestone-like crust. As the wood rotted, it left behind hollow molds that accurately reflect its shape.</p><p>A recent study published in Science Advances by a team of Spanish archaeologists cataloged 597 wooden remains from Neanderthal living areas, dating from 62,000 to 40,000 years ago. The findings include spears, digging sticks, bark trays, parts of shelters, and a club that is unlike any previously seen, indicating that Neanderthals may have been more advanced than previously thought.</p><h2>Beyond Hunting Gear</h2><p>The oldest known wooden artifacts are primarily weapons, including spears from Schöningen in Germany, a spear tip from Clacton-on-Sea in England, and a spear found with an elephant skeleton in Lehringen, Germany. Most of these artifacts were discovered in waterlogged sediments, where the lack of oxygen slowed their decay.</p>