Wooden tools in Greece dated to about 430,000 years ago

Two wooden artifacts recovered at a lake shore in Greece are reported to be about 430,000 years old and are described as the oldest wooden tools found so far.

Two wooden artifacts were recovered from a lakeshore site in the Megalopolis basin in Greece and are reported as among the oldest wooden tools discovered so far. One item is a spindly stick about 80 centimetres long that researchers say could have been used for digging. The other is a smaller handheld piece of willow or poplar wood that may have been used to shape stone tools. Wood rarely survives in most contexts, and these pieces were likely preserved by rapid burial and wet conditions at the site. Key details: - The finds come from a site in the Megalopolis basin and are reported as about 430,000 years old based on the age of the archaeological deposits. - One artifact is roughly 80 centimetres long and described as a possible digging stick; the other is a small handheld tool made of willow or poplar. - The wooden items were not directly dated; their age is inferred from the broader site context and associated materials. - Human remains have not been recovered at this site, so the specific group who used the tools is not known; possibilities mentioned include Neanderthals or other early human ancestors. - Earlier work at the site has recovered stone tools and elephant bones with cut marks, indicating prior human activity in the area. Summary: The discovery offers a rare preservation glimpse into how early humans used a variety of materials beyond stone, bone and antler for tools. Undetermined at this time.