Chinese archaeologists have discovered unique wooden tools dating back about 300,000 years, shedding light on the plant-oriented lifestyle of ancient people.
The tools were found near Lake Fuxian (Yunnan Province) and were perfectly preserved in a layer of oxygen-free clay - conditions in which wood can survive for millennia. The find is described in the journal Science.
35 wooden objects were found at the Gantanqing site, including diggers, hooks, blades and polished tools with traces of active use. All this indicates a developed woodworking skill and the widespread use of wood in everyday life. The tools were used to dig up edible roots, nuts, fruits and aquatic plants - suggesting that the diet of ancient humans was largely plant-based, unlike the hunting societies of northern Eurasia.
The age of the finds has been confirmed by several methods, including infrared fluorescence dating of the layers and analysis of a mammal tooth. This makes the find the oldest evidence of the use of wooden digging tools and plant resources in East Asia and challenges previous notions of the “Stone Age“ as an era of stone tools only.