STONE AGE

Recent research suggests that the Stone Age, traditionally known for the use of stone tools by humans and their ancestors, could also be accurately described as the ‘Wood Age’. This insight comes from the study of ancient wooden artefacts, revealing advanced woodworking skills long before previously acknowledged.

2. The Stone Age as the ‘Wood Age’

• A study of wooden artefacts dated between 300,000 and 400,000 years old was conducted on items excavated from a coal mine in Schoningen, Germany, between 1994 and 2008.
• These artefacts were found to be more than simple "sharpened sticks." Instead, they were identified as "technologically advanced tools" requiring considerable skill, precision, and time to construct.
• The study, published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences in April, identified a total of 187 wooden artefacts.
• These items demonstrated a broad spectrum of woodworking techniques, including splitting, scraping, and abrasion.
• The findings underscore the technological sophistication of early humans in using wood to create tools.

3. Periodising Human Prehistory

• In technical terms, human 'history' began with the advent of writing, while everything before that is classified as 'prehistory'.
• Prehistory is primarily studied using archaeological evidence, such as physical remains from the past.
• Ethnographic research, which studies human cultures and communities, also provides valuable insights.
• In the 19th century, Danish archaeologist Christian Jurgensen Thomsen introduced the first scientifically rigorous periodisation of human prehistory.
• He divided it into three main ages based on technological advancements: the Stone Age, the Bronze Age, and the Iron Age.
• Thomsen's chronology, although refined over time to reflect diverse cultural experiences, has become a foundational framework in archaeological studies.

The Stone Age

The Stone Age began approximately 3.4 million years ago (mya) when hominids first started using stone tools in modern-day Ethiopia. This era, which constitutes 99% of human history, lasted until about 6,000-4,000 BP (Before Present). It is divided into three periods: the Palaeolithic, Mesolithic, and Neolithic.

1. The Palaeolithic, or 'Old Stone Age', extended until about 11,650 BP in some regions. This period is marked by the use of rudimentary stone tools and a hunter-gatherer lifestyle.
2. The Mesolithic, or 'Middle Stone Age', is a transitional phase between the Palaeolithic and Neolithic periods. It featured advancements in tool-making and changes in human lifestyle as communities began to settle more permanently.
3. The Neolithic, or 'New Stone Age', saw the advent of agriculture and the domestication of animals. This period marked significant technological and social advancements, leading to the development of early human settlements and more complex societies.

4. Preservation Bias in Archaeology

Archaeological evidence forms the basis of the Stone Age classification, primarily through the discovery of stone tools, which offer insights into the lives and capabilities of early humans and their ancestors.

As Charles Darwin wrote in "The Descent of Man, and Selection in Relation to Sex" (1871): “To chip a flint into the rudest tool…demands the use of a perfect hand”. Even the most rudimentary stone tools required a level of mental sophistication and physical dexterity that is rarely if ever, seen in other creatures.

Evidence of Diverse Material Use

The capabilities of early humans were not limited to working with stone. Stone Age sites worldwide also show evidence of using other materials, such as bones, antlers, clay, and limited metalworking. However, evidence of woodworking has been scarce, despite wood being an abundant resource.

The Scarcity of Wooden Artifacts

Out of thousands of archaeological sites from the Lower Palaeolithic (up to around 200,000 BP), wood has been recovered from fewer than 10 sites. The earliest evidence of wooden use, such as wooden dwellings, dates back to only 700,000 BP, which is over two and a half million years after the earliest evidence of stone tools.

Reassessing the Importance of Wood

"The Neolithic or Wood Age" (1985), argued that "The absence of wooden remains from the Palaeolithic period… is certainly no indication that wood was not used." “We can probably assume that wooden tools have been around just as long as stone ones… But since wood deteriorates and rarely survives, preservation bias distorts our view of antiquity,”. 

The discoveries in Schoningen are pivotal due to the exceptional preservation of wooden artefacts. The site's damp and oxygen-deprived conditions prevented the decomposition of wood and other organic matter, resulting in the most well-preserved assemblage of prehistoric wooden artefacts globally.

Variety and Importance of Wooden Tools

“Schoningen stands out due to its number and variety of wooden tools,” states the recently published study identifies a minimum of 20 hunting weapons and 35 tools made from split wood, likely used in domestic activities.

Groundbreaking Discoveries

In the mid-1990s, archaeologist Hartmut Thieme uncovered three wooden spears alongside stone tools and butchered remains of over ten wild horses, dating back around 400,000 years. These discoveries of the world’s oldest preserved hunting weapons brought global fame to Schoningen and Thieme. The spears suggest that systematic hunting, involving foresight, planning, and appropriate technology, was part of the behavioural repertoire of pre-modern hominids. Thieme’s paper, ‘Lower Palaeolithic Hunting Spears from Germany’ (1997), highlights that pre-Homo sapiens communicated, organized butchering, and roasted their prey.

Technological Complexity Revealed

The new study further illuminates the technological sophistication of Schoningen’s wooden artefacts. Using 3-D microscopy and micro-CT scanners, researchers studied signs of wear or cut marks. Until now, splitting wood was thought to have been only practised by modern humans. Some spear points showed indications of being resharpened after breakage. The study noted that wood identified as working debris suggested tools were repaired and recycled for new tasks.

A More Comprehensive View of Prehistory

Despite the scarcity of evidence for prehistoric woodworking, findings from Schoningen provide a more comprehensive glimpse into our past. They highlight the significance of wood as a raw material and showcase pre-modern humans’ sophisticated woodworking capabilities.