New Research Reveals Early Humans’ Advanced Woodworking Skills and Communal Hunting Practices
A groundbreaking study has shed light on the remarkable woodworking abilities of early humans and their collaborative hunting practices. The research centers around a 300,000-year-old double-pointed wooden throwing stick, discovered in Schöningen, Germany, three decades ago.
The detailed analysis of the artifact has uncovered evidence of sophisticated woodworking techniques employed by early humans. The stick was found to have been meticulously scraped, seasoned, and sanded, indicating a level of craftsmanship and knowledge of wood properties that was previously unseen in our early ancestors.
Published in the journal PLOS ONE on July 19, the findings suggest that the development of lightweight weapons like the throwing stick may have facilitated communal hunts of medium and small animals. These hunting activities could have involved the entire community, including children.
Dr. Annemieke Milks, from the University of Reading’s Department of Archaeology and the leader of the research, stated, “Discoveries of wooden tools have revolutionized our understanding of early human behaviors. Amazingly, these early humans demonstrated an ability to plan well in advance, a strong knowledge of the properties of wood, and many sophisticated woodworking skills that we still use today.”
The lightweight throwing sticks may have offered advantages over heavier spears, making them easier to launch and increasing the potential for participation from the entire community. These tools may have even been used by children as they learned the art of throwing and hunting.
Co-author Dirk Leder further explained the woodworking process involved in crafting these throwing sticks. “The Schöningen humans used a spruce branch to make this aerodynamic and ergonomic tool. The woodworking involved multiple steps including cutting and stripping off the bark, carving it into an aerodynamic shape, scraping away more of the surface, seasoning the wood to avoid cracking and warping, and sanding it for easier handling,” said Leder.
The 77 cm (30 inch) long throwing stick, discovered in 1994, is one of several tools found at the Schöningen site, including thrusting spears and other throwing sticks. The detailed analysis indicates that it was likely used for hunting medium-sized game such as red and roe deer, as well as smaller prey like hares and birds that were challenging to catch.
Unlike modern-day javelins that are thrown overhead, these throwing sticks were launched rotationally, similar to a boomerang. They may have enabled early humans to achieve distances of up to 30 meters (100 feet). Despite their lightweight nature, the high velocities at which they could be thrown potentially resulted in deadly high-energy impacts.
The careful shaping, fine surface, and polish from frequent handling suggest that this throwing stick was a personal tool, used repeatedly, rather than a hastily made and disposable tool.
Thomas Terberger, the principal investigator of the study, expressed excitement about the future insights that can be gained from the systematic analysis of the wooden finds at the Schöningen site. He stated, “The systematic analysis of the wooden finds of the Schöningen site financed by the German Research Foundation provides valuable new insights, and further exciting information on these early wooden weapons can be expected soon.”
The incredibly well-preserved throwing stick is currently on display at the Forschungsmuseum in Schöningen, offering visitors a glimpse into the advanced skills and communal practices of early humans.
Reference: “A double-pointed wooden throwing stick from Schöningen, Germany: Results and new insights from a multianalytical study” by Annemieke Milks, Jens Lehmann, Dirk Leder, Michael Sietz, Tim Koddenberg, Utz Böhner, Volker Wachtendorf and Thomas Terberger, 19 July 2023, PLOS ONE.
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0287719