Neanderthal wooden tools from Spain found preserved in stone

Woodworking skills are now demonstrably more complex for Neanderthals, challenging previous perceptions of their cognitive abilities.

Archaeologists in Spain have cataloged 597 wooden remains from Neanderthal living areas at the Abric Romaní rock shelter, dating between 62,000 and 40,000 years ago. These artifacts, preserved by mineral-rich water precipitating a limestone-like crust around them, include spears, digging sticks, bark trays, parts of shelters, and a unique club. Unlike many earlier wooden tool discoveries that were preserved in waterlogged, low-oxygen environments primarily for hunting, the Abric Romaní finds come from a long-term living site, offering insights into a broader range of Neanderthal activities. The preservation method allowed for detailed molds of the wooden objects, which are now digitized using 3D scanning and photogrammetry for research and display. Out of the 597 remains, 13 were identified as modified or made by Neanderthals, displaying craftsmanship beyond natural formation and suggesting sophisticated planning and material knowledge.

The discovery of 13 distinct wooden tools at Abric Romaní, including bark trays and a novel club design, suggests Neanderthals possessed a wider range of practical skills and cognitive complexity than previously understood. This challenges the long-held view of Neanderthals as merely less intelligent relatives of Homo sapiens, highlighting their capacity for planning, material selection, and routine tool creation for diverse subsistence activities beyond just hunting. The detailed preservation method, using travertine molds to capture even cellular structures, offers an unprecedented window into their daily lives and technological sophistication.

This find may prompt a re-evaluation of existing archaeological evidence, as researchers now have a clearer template to identify potential Neanderthal woodworking at other sites. The meticulous cataloging and 3D digitization of these fragile wooden imprints also represent an advancement in paleoanthropological research methods, enabling more detailed study and wider dissemination of findings. The implication is that many previously overlooked or misidentified wooden fragments could be re-examined as evidence of Neanderthal craftsmanship, potentially rewriting our understanding of their cultural and technological landscape.