Section 1.1: The Groundbreaking Study

In 2019, an international team of researchers led by Larry Barham from the University of Liverpool made a remarkable discovery, with their findings published in September 2023 in the journal Nature. This study forms part of the Deep Roots Humanity project, which explores technological advancements during the Stone Age, supported by the UK’s Arts and Humanities Research Council.

The team struck gold near a waterfall along the Kalambo River in Zambia, where they unearthed five wooden artifacts showing signs of deliberate modification within the sediment. Some objects likely served as tools, while others included a stick and a tip that fit together. However, the most significant find was the interconnected logs, resembling a construction of Lincoln Logs, which might have been part of an elevated surface above the muddy banks.

To date their discovery, the researchers employed optically stimulated luminescence, revealing that the last exposure of the grains within the surrounding sediment—and the logs themselves—to sunlight occurred approximately 476,000 years ago.

Subsection 1.1.1: Why This Discovery Matters

One of the remarkable aspects of this find is the rarity of wooden artifacts surviving for such extensive periods due to their tendency to decompose. The researchers theorize that high water levels in the river may have played a crucial role in preserving these logs.

Although wooden artifacts have been discovered before, none have been as old as this recent find. The researchers pointed out that while a polished plank dating back over 780,000 years was found in Israel, and wooden tools from as far back as 400,000 years ago have surfaced globally, these earlier examples hint at a more rudimentary understanding of woodcraft among ancient humans.

Archaeologist Biancamaria Aranguren, who previously worked with Italy’s Ministry of Culture, noted that our understanding of early wood use and processing is merely "the tip of an iceberg."

Section 1.2: Implications of the Findings

This new discovery significantly pushes back the timeline of wooden structures. Previously, the oldest known wooden structure was only 9,000 years old, meaning this find predates it by several hundred thousand years. Barham emphasized that these logs predate the earliest known fossils of Homo sapiens, which are approximately 330,000 years old. Consequently, it suggests that the creators of these logs were likely another human species that existed before our own emergence.

Barham remarked, “This is a disruptive discovery. I never would have imagined that pre-Homo sapiens could have planned something of this nature.” He speculated that either Homo erectus, which existed from 2 million to 100,000 years ago, or Homo heidelbergensis, which thrived between 700,000 and 200,000 years ago, could have been responsible for constructing the platform. While there’s a chance that early Homo sapiens could have been involved, it remains unlikely.

Barham further stated, “We tend to believe that anything complex must be attributed to us, which is somewhat arrogant.”

As we delve deeper into our past, it becomes increasingly evident that Homo sapiens are not the sole architects of innovation. The logs found in Zambia exemplify the growing body of evidence suggesting that many skills we attribute to our species may have originated from our predecessors. Instead of solely claiming the invention of tools, art, and architecture, it appears our true strength lies in observing and adopting practices from other cultures.