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Neanderthal wooden tools from Spain found preserved in stone

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Briefings

Spanish archaeologists discovered 597 Neanderthal wooden tools preserved in stone at Abric Romaní, Spain, dating between 62,000 and 40,000 years ago. Mineral-rich water created a limestone-like crust on the wood, which rotted away to leave hollow molds. The collection includes diverse items such as spears, digging sticks, bark trays, shelter parts, and a unique club, challenging previous assumptions about Neanderthal capabilities. Most artifacts are weapons, with the oldest wood from waterlogged German sites, indicating widespread preservation in Europe. The study was published in Science Advances and represents a significant expansion of known Paleolithic tool types.

Key points

• A team of Spanish archaeologists cataloged 597 wooden Neanderthal remains from Abric Romaní, Spain, dating from 62,000 to 40,000 years ago.
• Waterlogged mineral-rich water preserved the wood by creating a limestone-like crust that rotted away, leaving hollow molds of the original tools.

Context and limitations

The study covers only 597 wooden artifacts from a single site in Spain; other Neanderthal tool types from other regions remain unrecorded. The specific function of the unique club and the full range of Neanderthal woodworking techniques are not fully documented.

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