By Archaeologists working in southern Greece have uncovered what may be the oldest handheld wooden tools ever identified, pushing direct evidence of woodworking technology back roughly 430,000 years and offering a rare glimpse into the material culture of early hominins during the Middle Pleistocene.
The findings were reported in a recent study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, based on excavations at the Marathousa 1 site in the Megalopolis Basin. The area, once a lakeshore and now part of an active lignite mine, yielded an unusual concentration of preserved wood fragments thanks to waterlogged, oxygen-poor sediments that prevented decay, according to reports.
Between 2013 and 2019, researchers recovered 144 pieces of wood from the site. Most appeared to be natural debris, but two artifacts displayed clear evidence of deliberate shaping and use. The larger object, made from alder wood and measuring about 2.7 feet in length, shows chopping and carving marks along with wear patterns consistent with a digging implement. Its discovery near butchered remains of a straight-tusked elephant suggests it may have been used to probe mud for resources or assist in processing large animal carcasses, though its precise function remains debated.
Archaeologists in Greece recovered wooden tools from waterlogged ground and have determined they weren’t merely ancient—they were made 430,000 years ago! Most likely, the tools were crafted by Neanderthals or Homo heidelbergensis.https://t.co/Sxh1jBmTF7 pic.twitter.com/MmNi4Gg2ne
— Archaeology Magazine (@archaeologymag) January 29, 2026
A second, much smaller artifact—only a few inches long and fashioned from willow or poplar—shows bark removal and careful shaping consistent with a finger-held tool. Researchers suggest it may have been used for fine tasks such as retouching stone tools, though some specialists caution that it could represent a fragment rather than a complete implement.
The tools significantly predate modern humans and were likely produced by Homo heidelbergensis or early Neanderthals, both of which are associated with increasing behavioral and technological complexity during this period. If confirmed, the discoveries push back the known use of handheld wooden tools by at least 40,000 years and represent the first such evidence from southeastern Europe.
Wooden artifacts from deep prehistory are exceptionally rare, particularly outside arid environments, making the Marathousa 1 assemblage especially significant. The wooden tools were found alongside stone implements, worked bone, and animal remains bearing clear butchery marks, indicating a diverse and adaptable toolkit.
Some researchers urge caution, noting that the functions of the tools are not immediately obvious and that further analysis is needed. Still, the finds add to a growing body of evidence that early hominins engaged in sophisticated woodworking and environmental manipulation, even during periods of climatic instability.
The discovery also underscores the importance of wetland and waterlogged sites in preserving fragile traces of early human technology, complementing recent finds such as a 480,000-year-old bone tool from England and reshaping assumptions about the scope and antiquity of prehistoric innovation.
