Neanderthals possessed advanced woodworking skills, crafting a variety of objects including spears, trays, and tripods, according to new evidence uncovered at the Abric Romaní archaeological site in Spain. The findings, which date from 40,000 to 62,000 years ago, suggest a greater technological versatility and a more sophisticated exploitation of wood as a raw material than previously understood.
The researchers discovered imprints and charred remains of 13 wooden objects. These artifacts reveal a surprising level of technical know-how, including the specific selection of different wood types for particular applications. For instance, small trays were shaped from the flexible bark of the juniper tree, ideal for lightweight equipment, while Scots pine was chosen for harder-wearing tools due to its relative compactness and workability.
The Abric Romaní site, located beneath a limestone cliff, is a significant archaeological location due to its preservation of ancient woodwork. The Middle Palaeolithic site, active between 300,000 and 30,000 years ago, served as a vital corridor and shelter for Neanderthals and early Homo sapiens. Wood, which typically decays rapidly, is preserved at this site through two main processes: carbonization, which leaves charred remains, and travertine incrustation, where calcium carbonate from the surrounding rock forms a layer around the object, preserving fine details.
Among the simpler artifacts found were wooden trays, possibly used as containers for food or for handling embers. Pointed sticks, showing deliberate shaping marks, may have served as spears for hunting or fishing, or as digging tools. More elaborate woodworking included structural elements, such as fragments of long sticks that likely formed a tripod structure for food processing. A 5.1-meter-long tree stripped of branches was also found, potentially used as a structural element or part of a resting area.
The most complex object discovered is a unique wooden club, carved from a single piece of wood. Its design, featuring a distinct handle and a tapered head, indicates a deliberate and controlled shaping process, suggesting it may have been used as a weapon or for dispatching animals like deer and horses.
These findings, published in Science Advances, demonstrate that Neanderthals' aptitude extended beyond stone tools to include a remarkable ability to work with organic materials such as bone, shell, fiber, and wood. This challenges previous perceptions of Neanderthals as solely stone tool users and highlights their sophisticated capabilities in utilizing diverse natural resources.