Scientists found ancient logs locked together, and it changed the story of early humans

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.

The discovery challenged existing notions of early humans

Until recently, it was assumed that advanced woodworking was a feature of modern humans only. Kalambo Falls contradicted that assumption. The logs found are much older than any H. sapiens, which implies another hominin species built them. Consequently, archaeologists concluded the woodworking skills were advanced much sooner than expected.

As Annemieke Milks, an archeologist from the University of Reading, puts it, this discovery emphasizes the fact that ancient humans relied on wood to a great extent despite scarce evidence left. The discovery was evidence of planning abilities too. Construction of a wooden structure necessitates material selection and proper assembly of different components. That is why such construction required forethought rather than spontaneity.

Other worked pieces of wood were discovered near by

Besides the joined logs, there were more artifacts made from wood that were discovered on Kalambo Falls. These artifacts include a wedge, a digging stick, a cut log, and a notched branch. They come from the later stratigraphic levels in the area and date back to around 390,000 and 324,000 years ago.

This more substantial evidence reinforces the idea that working with wood in this place was intentional and systematic. It indicates a set of skills related to cutting, joining, and using timber.

Archaeologists maintain their caution about the findings

While the discovery is exciting, archaeologists remain cautiously optimistic. The joined logs do not confirm the presence of whole dwellings. According to archaeologists, it makes more sense to interpret them as structural behavior. Nevertheless, this information is very important. This finding proves that our ancestors possessed construction skills way ahead of time. It also makes us remember the amount of historical artifacts which might be already lost as materials such as wood hardly last for millennia.

At Kalambo Falls, we found an extraordinary example of what has been lost to time. Even though the technique of making a fence seems rather primitive now, this construction demonstrates an exceptionally sophisticated knowledge about materials and engineering 500 thousand years ago.