Archaeologists discovered 597 preserved wooden Neanderthal tools at Abric Romaní in Spain, dating from 62,000 to 40,000 years ago. Unlike previous wooden finds limited to waterlogged hunting weapons, these were preserved by mineral-rich water coating and include spears, digging sticks, bark trays, shelter parts, and an unprecedented club, revealing Neanderthals used wood routinely across diverse subsistence activities.
Background
Wood rarely survives in the archaeological record due to rapid decay, making wooden tool discoveries exceptionally rare. Previous evidence of Neanderthal woodworking has been limited mostly to waterlogged spear finds from sites in Germany and England.
- Source
- Ars Technica
- Published
- Oct 10, 2026 at 06:34 AM
- Score
- 8.0 / 10