Neanderthal Wooden Tools Preserved in Limestone Crust Found in Spain

While the Stone Age is defined by durable artifacts, wood was likely the primary material used by early humans due to its ease of processing. However, rapid decomposition has left archaeologists with scant evidence of Paleolithic woodworking. This gap has been partially bridged at Abric Romaní, a rock shelter located in Capellades, west of Barcelona, where mineral-rich waters encased wooden Neanderthal tools in a limestone-like crust. As the organic material decayed, it left behind hollow molds that accurately preserved the original shapes.

A recent study published in Science Advances details the cataloging of 597 wooden remains from Neanderthal habitation sites spanning between 62,000 and 40,000 years ago. The assortment includes spears, digging sticks, bark trays, structural components of shelters, and a unique club that has no prior equivalent in the archaeological record. These findings suggest that Neanderthals possessed capabilities far exceeding the simplistic view of them as lesser relatives of Homo sapiens.

Historically, the oldest known wooden artifacts have predominantly been weapons. Notable examples include spears excavated from Schöningen in Germany, a spear tip from Clacton-on-Sea in England, and a spear found near an elephant skeleton in Lehringen, Germany. Most of these early discoveries originated in waterlogged sediments, where oxygen deprivation significantly slowed the process of decay.