Not Built by Homo sapiens – Scientists Discover “Extraordinary” 476,000-Year-Old Wooden Structure

[PeteS in CA]

Not Built by Homo sapiens – Scientists Discover “Extraordinary” 476,000-Year-Old Wooden Structure

https://scitechdaily.com/not-built-by-homo-sapiens-scientists-discover-extraordinary-476000-year-old-wooden-structure/

Recent research has revealed that nearly half a million years ago, ancient human ancestors, predating Homo sapiens, were already engaging in advanced woodworking.

The artifacts found indicate that these humans were building structures, potentially laying the foundation of platforms or parts of dwellings, much earlier than what was once believed.

The Evidence from Kalambo Falls
A team from the University of Liverpool and Aberystwyth University excavated preserved wood at Kalambo Falls, Zambia, dating back to an impressive 476,000 years. Analyzing the stone tool cut marks on the wood, the team deduced that these early humans intentionally shaped and combined two logs, showcasing the deliberate crafting of logs to fit together. Prior to this discovery, humans were believed to only utilize wood for simpler purposes such as creating fire, crafting digging sticks, and making spears.

I'm so old that my elementary school Science textbook taught the Piltdown Man fraud as factual. I guess I've gotten accustomed to Darwinist theories of man's ancestry and their capabilities being upset by discoveries.

[bigheadfred]

 

[Kamaji]

Not sure why this should be so incredibly surprising.  Homo erectus - the precursor to Homo sapiens - was an adept tool-maker, and was around in the relevant time-frame (they originated almost 2million years ago).  They are known to have made various hand axes, which would almost certainly led them to trying to shape larger pieces of wood than just spear shafts and digging sticks.