Woodworking is one of the oldest and most important skills of human civilization. It allows us to create useful and beautiful objects from natural materials. But how did our ancestors develop and use tools to shape wood for various purposes? A team of researchers from Tokyo Metropolitan University has found a way to answer this question by examining the traces left on stone edges.
The researchers created replica stone tools that resembled those used in the Early Upper Paleolithic age, about 38,000 to 30,000 years ago. They used these tools for different tasks, such as cutting down trees, processing animal hides, and butchering meat. They also simulated some non-use events, such as dropping, carrying, and stepping on the tools.
By analyzing the macroscopic and microscopic marks on the stone edges, they could identify which activities caused which traces. They found that tree-felling left distinctive fractures on the stone, while wood friction created fine scratches on the surface. By combining these two types of evidence, they could distinguish tools used for woodworking from those used for other activities.
Rewriting the history of woodworking
The researchers’ findings have important implications for the study of prehistoric woodworking. While it is generally accepted that woodworking became more advanced and diverse in the Neolithic age, starting about 10,000 years ago, there is evidence that ground stone axes were used much earlier, in the Marine Isotope Stage 3, about 60,000 to 30,000 years ago.
However, what these early stone axes were used for needs to be clarified. Were they used for woodworking or other purposes? The researchers’ criteria can help answer this question by comparing the traces on the ancient stone edges with those on the replica tools.
If the stone edges from the Marine Isotope Stage 3 sites show signs of woodworking, this would mean that humans mastered this skill much earlier than previously thought. This would also shed light on how humans adapted to different environments and climates by using wood for various needs.
For example, in Australia, where ground stone axes have been found from this period, woodworking may have been used to make shelters, boats, and weapons. In Japan, where similar artifacts have been discovered, woodworking may have been used to make ritual objects, such as wooden figurines and masks. These cultural differences reflect how humans used wood to express their identity and beliefs.
The researchers hope their method can be applied to other regions and periods and reveal more about the history and evolution of woodworking. By understanding how our ancestors used stone tools to shape wood, we can gain a deeper insight into their way of life and their relationship with nature.
The study was published in Journal of Archaeological Science.
Study abstract:
Systematic tree-felling using a polished stone axe and/or adze developed with sedentary lifeways in environments. However, securely dated Pleistocene edge-ground stone axes/adzes have now been identified from Marine Isotope Stage 3 sites in two distant regions: Australia and Japan. These early ground tools are indicative of full-blown tree-felling, but whether they indeed functioned as woodworking tools remains unclear. We present the results of an experimental study with replicas of Early Upper Paleolithic edge-ground stone axes/adzes from the Japanese archipelago that included a total of 75 replicas used in 15 different use and nonuse experiments. Results indicate that identifications of wood percussive tools must be based on a comprehensive analysis of both macro- and microscopic traces. Overall, the criteria presented in this study allow us to distinguish between edge-ground stone axes/adzes used as tree-felling tools and those used for other tasks.
