Unearthing the Best-Preserved Pleistocene Wooden Tools Provides Unparalleled Understanding of Neanderthal Life
Schöningen spears as presented at an exhibition of the Forschungsmuseum Schöningen. Only two confirmed older wooden tools have been found.
Image Credit: Niedersächsisches Landesamt für Denkmalpflege (NLD)
An exhaustive examination of the most abundant Paleolithic wooden tool cache has shed unprecedented light on the daily lives of Neanderthals inhabiting northern Germany over 300,000 years ago.
While hominins have utilized stone tools for millions of years, the functional utility of wood likely dawned upon them around the same period. However, due to wood's limited preservation capabilities, direct evidence of early wood tool usage remains scarce, making the recent discovery of a 476,000-year-old wooden structure a monumental archaeological revelation.
The exception lies at Schöningen, where an astounding 187 wooden artifacts have been unearthed, encapsulated within the "Spear Horizon." This horizon corresponds to the era when early Neanderthals supplanted Homo heidelbergensis in Europe.
Spears and throwing sticks are a minority of the items at the site, but their size makes them stand out.
Image Credit: Niedersächsisches Landesamt für Denkmalpflege (NLD)
These artifacts have revolutionized our perception of early human behavior, portraying Neanderthals as adept hunters rather than mere scavengers. The remnants serve as invaluable glimpses into the lifestyle of this branch of the human family tree, offering insights into how hunter-gatherer communities flourished across Europe during interglacial periods.
While the Spear Horizon's discovery dates back to 1994, the exhaustive exploration and analysis of its treasures have proceeded gradually.
In a newly published study, Dr. Dirk Leder from the Lower Saxony State Office for Cultural Heritage and his team present the first comprehensive report on the artifacts unearthed at the site up to 2008.
Contrary to popular perception, the majority of items unearthed were not hunting weapons but rather split woods with pointed or rounded ends, likely employed for domestic tasks such as processing animal hides, primarily from horses found at the site. The purpose of many other artifacts remains unidentified.
Interestingly, the analysis highlights the residents' willingness to travel considerable distances for the optimal wood materials. Despite the lakeside site's absence of spruce and pine, the majority of tools were crafted from these woods, sourced from mountains several kilometers away.
Part of the spear point of Spear V, showing the tree's annual rings and the work done to create surface facets and a flattened knot.
Image Credit: Niedersächsisches Landesamt für Denkmalpflege (NLD)
The study unveils two distinct processes employed in crafting these tools, providing crucial insights into Pleistocene technological advancement and its correlation with cognitive abilities and social learning.
The remarkable preservation of these artifacts, owing to water-logged soil resulting from retreating ice sheets, underscores their significance in unraveling the mysteries of early human existence.
The study is freely accessible in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
