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Neanderthals Used Wood for Tools, Housing - and Murder?
The New York Times • • science
Key Points:
- A unique geological event near Barcelona preserved Neanderthal wooden tools and housing materials from 62,000 to 40,000 years ago by coating them in calcium carbonate, creating detailed limestone molds.
- These travertine limestone casts retain intricate details such as tool marks, grain patterns, and cellular structures, revealing advanced Neanderthal carpentry and home design skills.
- Contrasting this evidence of craftsmanship, a 75,000-year-old Neanderthal skeleton found in Iraqi Kurdistan shows the earliest known case of death by wooden spear, with a precise, fatal wound to the chest.
- Together, these discoveries highlight both the sophisticated cultural practices and the violent realities of Paleolithic Neanderthal life.
