An international team of researchers has discovered 430,000-year-old wooden tools at the Marathousa 1 site in Greece. The discovery, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, provides the earliest evidence of humans shaping and using wood for functional purposes, extending the known history of such tools by at least 40,000 years. This astonishing find not only rewrites parts of the prehistoric tool timeline but also reveals the complex behaviors of early humans during the Middle Pleistocene.
A Glimpse into Early Human Craftsmanship
At the heart of this discovery are two wooden tools, one made of alder wood, the other of willow or poplar—both shaped and used by early humans for purposes that are still not entirely understood. These tools were found at the Marathousa 1 site, a key location in the central Peloponnese region of Greece, where researchers have uncovered a treasure trove of stone tools, animal remains, and now, wooden artifacts.
The tools were not preserved by chance. Wood is a fragile material, requiring very specific conditions to survive for thousands of years. As Dr. Annemieke Milks, one of the leading experts on early wooden tools, explains, “Unlike stones, wooden objects need special conditions to survive over long periods of time.” The team closely examined the preserved wooden fragments under microscopes, revealing clear evidence of human modification, including marks from chopping and carving. These marks indicate that the tools were shaped for specific functions, providing a rare glimpse into the resourcefulness of early humans.
Unveiling the Middle Pleistocene
The Marathousa 1 findings are more than just an archaeological puzzle; they offer a deeper understanding of the Middle Pleistocene, a period from about 774,000 to 129,000 years ago, when early humans began to show signs of more complex behaviors.
“The Middle Pleistocene was a critical phase in human evolution, during which more complex behaviors developed. The earliest reliable evidence of the targeted technological use of plants also dates from this period,” says Professor Katerina Harvati, a paleoanthropologist at the University of Tübingen and lead researcher on the project.
This period, marked by evolving tool-making techniques and the use of diverse materials, was essential in shaping the course of human history.
What the Tools Reveal About Early Humans
These ancient tools, made from alder and willow or poplar, are much more than simple implements; they represent a profound leap in cognitive and practical capabilities. One of the alder fragments, for example, bears clear signs of wear that suggest it was used for digging or possibly stripping bark. The second smaller fragment, made from a different type of wood, also displays similar shaping marks. However, it remains unclear whether this tool was used for digging, cutting, or some other function.
In contrast, the team discovered another piece of alder wood at the site that had been marked by a large carnivore, likely a bear. This serves as a reminder that early humans shared their environment with powerful predators, and their survival was not only a matter of creating tools but also of competing with these formidable creatures.
Credit: Photograph by N. Thompson, copyright K. Harvati.
Challenging Global Records
This discovery, detailed in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, challenges the global record of early wooden tools. While wooden tools have been found in regions such as the United Kingdom, Zambia, Germany, and China, they are all more recent than those discovered at Marathousa 1.
“The oldest wooden tools come from places such as the United Kingdom, Zambia, Germany, and China and include weapons, digging sticks, and tool handles. However, they are all more recent than our finds from Marathousa 1,” says Dr. Milks.
The Marathousa 1 tools not only predate these finds but also represent the first discovery of wooden tools from Southeastern Europe, a region that has been historically underrepresented in such studies.
The Preservation Conditions at Marathousa 1
The unique preservation conditions at the Marathousa 1 site have allowed these wooden tools to survive for hundreds of thousands of years, offering an extraordinary window into the past. Professor Harvati underscores the exceptional nature of the site’s preservation: “This shows once again how exceptionally good the conditions at the Marathousa 1 site are for preservation.” The site also reveals evidence of fierce competition for resources, as large carnivores left their marks near butchered elephant remains, alongside signs of human activity.
