Researchers peel back layers of Neanderthal woodworking legacy

Rarely preserved wooden artifacts reveal Neanderthals used wood for everything from hunting weapons to household objects and possibly shelters.(CN) — Neanderthals shaped wood into hunting weapons, household objects and possible structural elements, according to a study of unusually well-preserved artifacts from a prehistoric site in Spain.Researchers identified 13 wooden artifacts among 597 wood specimens recovered from 16 archaeological layers at the Abric Romaní rock shelter in Catalonia, dating from about 62,000 to 40,000 years ago.The collection includes two spears, pointed sticks, four bark trays and wooden elements interpreted as parts of structures. Researchers also found a distinctive club-like object that has no known parallel in the prehistoric record.The findings, published Wednesday in Science Advances, offer a rare look at Neanderthal woodworking. Wood typically decays before it can be preserved, but at Abric Romaní, calcium carbonate from the surrounding travertine — a natural formation of limestone — created molds around decomposing wood, sometimes preserving details at the cellular level.One spear was about 8 feet long, while another preserved the imprint of a nearly 6.5-foot-long pointed object. The researchers said the spears are consistent with thrusting weapons and fit with evidence of active hunting at the site.The club-like artifact, recovered from another layer, had a handle and a wider working end. Scraping marks show it was deliberately shaped, though its precise function remains uncertain.The study also identified small wood chips in several archaeological layers, providing additional evidence of woodworking.“Although relatively small, this collection of artifacts is notable for the varied morphology and functionality of the items that comprise it,” the researchers wrote.The researchers said the findings show that woodworking was an integrated part of Neanderthal technology alongside stone tool production, although the scarcity of preserved wood has likely obscured its importance.Categories / History, ScienceSubscribe to our free newslettersOur weekly newsletter Closing Arguments offers the latest about ongoing trials, major litigation and rulings in courthouses around the U.S. and the world, while the monthly Under the Lights dishes the legal dirt from Hollywood, sports, Big Tech and the arts.Additional Reads