The excavation team discovering the wood structure. Credit: Professor Larry Barham, University of Liverpool
Professional analysis of stone tool cut marks on the wood reveals that these early human beings shaped and joined two big logs to make a structure, probably the structure of a platform or part of a dwelling.
This is the earliest proof from throughout the world of the purposeful crafting of logs to mesh. Up until now, evidence for the human usage of wood was restricted to its usage for making fire, digging sticks and spears.
A wedge-shaped piece of wood. Credit: Professor Larry Barham, University of Liverpool
Conservation at Kalambo Falls
Wood is hardly ever discovered in such ancient sites as it generally vanishes and rots, however at Kalambo Falls completely high water levels maintained the wood.
This discovery challenges the dominating view that Stone Age human beings were nomadic. At Kalambo Falls these people not just had a seasonal source of water, however the forest around them supplied enough food to allow them to settle and make structures.
The excavation group revealing the wood structure. Credit: Professor Larry Barham, University of Liverpool
Teacher Larry Barham, from the University of Liverpools Department of Archaeology, Classics and Egyptology, who leads the Deep Roots of Humanity research task said:
” This find has actually changed how I think of our early ancestors. Forget the label Stone Age, look at what these individuals were doing: they made something new, and big, from wood. They utilized their intelligence, creativity, and skills to create something they d never seen before, something that had never ever formerly existed.”
” They transformed their environments to make life simpler, even if it was only by making a platform to rest on by the river to do their daily tasks. These folks were more like us than we believed.”
The wooden structure, showing where Stone Age Humans have actually cut into the wood. Credit: Professor Larry Barham, University of Liverpool
Dating the Finds
The specialist dating of the finds was undertaken by experts at Aberystwyth University.
They used brand-new luminescence dating methods, which reveal the last time minerals in the sand surrounding the finds were exposed to sunlight, to determine their age.
Professor Geoff Duller from Aberystwyth University said:
” At this great age, putting a date on finds is very challenging and we used luminescence dating to do this. These brand-new dating techniques have far-reaching implications– permitting us to date much even more back in time, to piece together sites that provide us a glance into human development. The website at Kalambo Falls had actually been excavated back in the 1960s when similar pieces of wood were recuperated, however they were unable to date them, so the true significance of the site was uncertain till now.”
Kalambo Falls, Zambia where the wood was found. Credit, Professor Geoff Duller, Aberystwyth University
Historical Significance of Kalambo Falls
The website of Kalambo Falls on the Kalambo River lies above a 235-meter (772-foot) waterfall on the border of Zambia with the Rukwa Region of Tanzania at the edge of Lake Tanganyika. The location is on a tentative list from UNESCO for ending up being a World Heritage site because of its archaeological significance.
Professor Duller added:
” Our research study shows that this site is much older than formerly thought, so its historical significance is now even higher. It adds more weight to the argument that it need to be a United Nations World Heritage Site.”
This research forms part of the pioneering Deep Roots of Humanity task, an investigation into how human innovation developed in the Stone Age. The task is funded by the UKs Arts and Humanities Research Council and included groups from Zambias National Heritage Conservation Commission, Livingstone Museum, Moto Museum, and the National Museum, Lusaka.
Professor Barham included:
” Kalambo Falls is an extraordinary site and a significant heritage possession for Zambia. The Deep Roots group is anticipating more amazing discoveries emerging from its waterlogged sands.”
Reference: “Evidence for the earliest structural use of wood at least 476,000 years earlier” by L. Barham, G. A. T. Duller, I. Candy, C. Scott, C. R. Cartwright, J. R. Peterson, C. Kabukcu, M. S. Chapot, F. Melia, V. Rots, N. George, N. Taipale, P. Gethin and P. Nkombwe, 20 September 2023, Nature.DOI: 10.1038/ s41586-023-06557-9.
Professor Larry Barham (visualized, right) revealing the wood structure on the banks of the river with a great spray. Credit: Professor Geoff Duller, Aberystwyth University
Research study from the University of Liverpool and Aberystwyth University reveals human beings were constructing wood structures 476,000 years earlier at Kalambo Falls, Zambia. This discovery, dated utilizing innovative strategies, highlights the early human ability to settle and challenges previous ideas about Stone Age way of lives.
Half a million years back, earlier than was previously believed possible, human beings were constructing structures made of wood, according to brand-new research by a group from the University of Liverpool and Aberystwyth University.
The research study, released in the journal Nature, reports on the excavation of unspoiled wood at the historical site of Kalambo Falls, Zambia, dating back at least 476,000 years and preceding the evolution of our own species, Homo sapiens.
Forget the label Stone Age, appearance at what these people were doing: they made something brand-new, and large, from wood. They utilized their intelligence, imagination, and skills to create something they d never seen before, something that had never ever previously existed.”
” At this excellent age, putting a date on finds is extremely challenging and we used luminescence dating to do this. These new dating techniques have significant implications– allowing us to date much further back in time, to piece together websites that offer us a glimpse into human development. The site at Kalambo Falls had been excavated back in the 1960s when similar pieces of wood were recuperated, but they were unable to date them, so the real significance of the site was uncertain till now.”
