Zambian Wooden Structure Found Dating Back Nearly 500,000 Years

Last week, researchers found the remnants of the world’s oldest structure near the Kalambo River, bordering Zambia and Tanzania. The structure is thought to predate modern humans and dates back to at least 476,000 years ago.

It is thought that the structure was created by the shaping of two logs with sharp stone tools and may have been used as a walkway, platform, or foundation. Specific marks found on the body of the structure suggest that such tools were used to cut, chop, and scrape the wood into shape.  

It is theorised that Homo heidelbergensis, a predecessor of modern humans, may have been responsible for creating the structure. The finding highlights the high level of ingenuity and technological skill used by ancient human ancestors.

Professor Larry Barham, an archaeologist at the University of Liverpool who led the work, described the finding as remarkable as wood rarely survives prolonged periods. It is hypothesised that the wood was preserved due to waterlogged sediments that lacked oxygen and therefore were less susceptible to erosion.

Other items found include a digging stick, a wedge, a split branch, and log with cut ends.

Dr. Annemieke Milks, a Palaeolithic archaeologist at the University of Reading, remarked that the interlocking and shaped logs signified a "behavioural threshold," demonstrating that as far back as nearly 500,000 years ago, humans employed significant materials to modify their living surroundings.

She further outlined, “The rarity of wood preservation implies that such behaviours were more widespread than what we witness in the archaeological record.”

“Although the use of wood for tools and structures remains commonplace today, their findings provide a rare glimpse into the role that this simple material played in human evolution,” she added.

Such findings provide key insights into how early humans used large-scale materials to shape their environment. In the upcoming weeks, it is expected that the discovery team will work alongside the New Dawn Government, to have Kalambo Falls recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Photo: Prof Larry Barham/University of Liverpool