Rare traces of wooden tools reveal Neanderthals were skilled woodworkers
There is even more evidence that Neanderthals were far from the simple cave dwellers we once thought them to be. The discovery of a clublike artifact and other wooden tools from an archaeological site near Barcelona, Spain, suggests they may have been skilled woodworkers.
Recent findings near Barcelona, Spain, have revealed Neanderthals possessed advanced woodworking skills, challenging the notion of them being simple cave dwellers. At the Middle Paleolithic site of Abric Romaní, archaeologists from the Catalan Institute of Human Paleoecology and Social Evolution unearthed 597 wooden artifacts spanning from 62,000 to 40,000 years ago.
Unlike typical wood preservation, these objects were preserved as mineral molds or charred remains, providing detailed insights into Neanderthal craftsmanship. Out of all the recovered specimens, 13 were identified as tools and objects modified by Neanderthal hands, including poles for shelters, possible digging sticks, spears, and a clublike object with a distinct handle and head.
Additionally, four charred bark objects may have served as containers or tools for food or ashes. These findings suggest Neanderthals at Abric Romaní were skilled woodworkers, selecting and shaping wood for various purposes, reflecting a flexible technological system supported by detailed knowledge.
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