A new analysis of a 300,000-year-old tool suggests that our ancestors were skilled carpenters who crafted useful hunting weapons with comfort, efficiency and durability in mind.
A 77 cm (30 in) long double-ended wooden throwing stick found in Schöngen, Germany in 1994 was recently analyzed using microcomputed tomography, 3D microscopy, infrared spectroscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). spectroscopic). ). The impressive results surprised the team at the University of Reading, as the technology allows for a better understanding of the tools in the package compared to previous analyses.
"The discovery of wooden tools has revolutionized our understanding of ancient human behaviour," said lead author Animek Milks, from the University of Reading's Department of Archaeology. "Amazingly, these early humans demonstrated the ability to plan ahead, an excellent knowledge of the properties of wood, and many of the sophisticated woodworking skills we still use today."
Among the finds, the researchers were able to determine what kind of tree it was made of, its age, whether it had branches, and whether the craftsman had carefully worked it so that it could be used for hunting.
They also saw how the wood was cut, sanded and "sealed" to ensure the instrument would stand the test of time.
"The inhabitants of Chungen used a spruce branch to make this simple and ergonomic tool," said co-author Dirk Lederer. "Woodworking involved several steps, including cutting and removing the bark, sanding and roughing with a larger area, seasoning the wood to prevent cracking and warping, and sanding for easier handling."
All this suggests that the tool will be a reliable long-term companion for its creator and can be used to teach the younger members of the group how to hunt.
"Light throwing sticks were easier to throw than heavy javelins, suggesting that the whole community could be involved," Leader said. "Kids would use tools like this when they were learning how to throw and catch."
It was found among several carvings probably used for hunting, and it is believed that this type was used for hunting medium-sized game such as deer and possibly rabbits and birds.
And despite their spear-like appearance, the throwing sticks may have been used as boomerangs, which were thrown so fast that they were fatal on impact.
As for which of our ancestors could have such cunning talents? There is no jury. However, the general consensus is that Homo heidelbergensis or H. neanderthalensis.
"We can expect more interesting information about these early wooden weapons in the near future," joked lead researcher Thomas Terberger.
If you're nearby, check out this 300,000-year-old wooden marvel on display at Schöningen's Forschungsmuseum.
The study was published in the journal PLOS One.
Source: University of Reading.
