Archaeologists Determine Ancient Origins of Cache of 35 Wooden Tools Found in China

A joint team of archaeologists, chronologists, geologists, and paleontologists have successfully dated a hoard of wooden tools recovered nearly a decade ago, Ancient Origins reported.

The ancient tools were originally found in two separate excavations at an archaeological site in Gantangqing, southwestern China, between 2015–2016 and 2018–2019. They were found nestled with a variety of plant and animal fossils as well as stone artifacts in low-oxygen, clay-heavy sediment, which kept the wood intact over thousands of years. New dating has shown the tools to be around 300,000 years old, which places their creation near the end of the Early Paleolithic Period, or “stone age.” It’s remarkably rare to find wooden tools outside of Africa or western Eurasia which are older than 50,000 years.

Of the 35 tools found, 32 were determined by scientists to have been modified at their base, with some possessing rounded ends while others were equipped with thin or edged chisel-like blades. Most of the tools were manufactured from pinewood, with a small number crafted from hardwood.

Liu et al. / Science

Liu et al. / Science

Also found were two larger digging implements which, it was determined, were designed to be operated with two hands. “These are unique forms of digging implements not documented elsewhere, suggesting localized functional adaptations,” Bo Li, one of the chronologists who worked on the project, wrote for Ancient Origins. “There were also four distinct hook-shaped tools—likely used for cutting roots—and a series of smaller tools for one-handed use.”

According to Li, “the find significantly expands our understanding of early hominin woodworking capabilities.” “The wooden implements from Gantangqing represent the earliest known evidence for the use of digging sticks and for the exploitation of underground plant storage organs such as tubers within the Oriental biogeographic realm. Our discovery shows the use of sophisticated wood technology in a very different environmental context from what has been seen at sites of similar age in Europe and Africa.”

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Archaeologists Determine Ancient Origins of Cache of 35 Wooden Tools Found in China first appeared on Men's Journal on Jul 12, 2025