Researchers have discovered remnants of world’s oldest known wooden structure, an arrangement of logs at the archaeological site of Kalambo Falls, Zambia, that predates the rise of modern humans.
- The simple structure, made by shaping two logs with sharp stone tools, may have formed part of a walkway or platform for human ancestors who lived along the Kalambo River nearly 500,000 years ago.
- Scientists at the University of Aberystwyth dated the structure to at least 476,000 years old, from long before Homo sapiens are thought to have emerged about 300,000 years ago.
- The structure may be the work of Homo heidelbergensis, a predecessor of modern humans that lived in the region.
- This is the earliest evidence from anywhere in the world of the deliberate crafting of logs to fit together.
- Until now, evidence for the human use of wood was limited to its use for making fire, digging sticks and spears.
- Wood is rarely found in such ancient sites as it usually rots and disappears, but at Kalambo Falls permanently high water levels preserved the wood.
