Archaeologists in Greece have unearthed two wooden tools dating back 430,000 years, representing the oldest handheld wooden artifacts ever discovered. The find challenges conventional understandings of early human technology and suggests that woodworking was a far more common practice among our ancestors than previously believed. The discovery highlights the limitations of the archaeological record, where organic materials rarely survive for such extended periods.
Wood as an “Invisible” Material
When considering prehistoric tools, stone implements often come to mind. This represents largely due to the durability of stone, which can endure for hundreds of thousands, even millions, of years, whereas wood typically decomposes. The archaeological record has historically suggested that early humans relied almost exclusively on stone and bone tools.
This perception may have persisted because of the scarcity of preserved wooden artifacts.
The recent announcement from an international team of archaeologists detailing the discovery of two wooden tools, dated to 430,000 years ago, has drawn significant attention. The study was published last month in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
“Unlike stones, wooden objects need special conditions to survive for a long time,” explained archaeologist Annemieke Milksová of the University of Reading in the UK to Sci.News. “We carefully examined all the wooden remains found and analyzed their surfaces under a microscope. On two objects, we found clear signs of human processing and utilize.”
Excavations at an opencast mine in Greece have uncovered two wooden objects more than 400,000 years old that appear to have been fashioned as tools by an unknown species of ancient human https://t.co/tNxSdTuD6g
— New Scientist (@newscientist) January 26, 2026
Preservation of Wood as an Archaeological Miracle
Both artifacts were recovered from the Marathousa 1 site, near the city of Megalopolis. The tools were found approximately 30 meters below the surface in an environment saturated with water, the site having once been the shore of an ancient lake.
The lack of oxygen in this environment slowed the decomposition of the wood, allowing the organic material to survive for hundreds of thousands of years. In addition to the wooden tools, archaeologists also discovered stone tools and animal bones, including remains of elephants, hippos, deer, wild boar, turtles, birds and freshwater shellfish.
The evidence suggests a rich ecosystem that provided early humans with ample food and materials. “At the time these wooden tools were used, Europe was experiencing a extremely cold ice age, but the environment around the lake was relatively pleasant,” Milksová added to Live Science.
An Alder Pole and a Mysterious Small Tool
The first of the discovered objects is an alder pole measuring 81 centimeters in length. It was found in four fragments, but analysis revealed it was originally a single, worked tool. Researchers identified traces of modification, such as the removal of branches or the creation of a grip. Wear on one finish suggests it was used for digging or removing bark from trees.
The second tool is significantly smaller, measuring only 5.7 centimeters, and was made from willow or poplar. One end is rounded, and the surface shows small indentations. Its purpose remains a mystery, but experts believe it may have been used as an auxiliary tool in the manufacture of stone tools or other precision work.
Who Made the Tools?
The finds are approximately 130,000 years older than the first appearance of Homo sapiens. Although no human remains have been found at the site, archaeologists believe the tools may have been made by members of the Homo heidelbergensis species or early Neanderthals.
Archaeologists in Greece recovered wooden tools from waterlogged ground and have determined they weren’t merely ancient—they were made 430,000 years ago! Most likely, the tools were crafted by Neanderthals or Homo heidelbergensis.https://t.co/Sxh1jBmTF7 pic.twitter.com/MmNi4Gg2ne
— Archaeology Magazine (@archaeologymag) January 29, 2026
The discovery in Greece serves as a reminder that archaeology of the prehistoric period is, to some extent, incomplete. Stone and bone can survive for hundreds of thousands of years, while wood, leather, and other organic materials usually disappear without a trace. However, some recent findings suggest that woodworking was a common part of daily life for early humans.
“The oldest wooden tools come from places like Great Britain, Zambia, Germany, and China, and include weapons, digging sticks, and tool handles. However, all of them are younger than our finds from Marathousa 1,” Milksová stated to Phys.
The only older evidence of our ancestors using wood comes from Zambia and dates back approximately 476,000 years. In this case, however, the wood was not used as a tool (handheld), but as a building material.
The city of Megalopolis, near which the Marathousa 1 archaeological site is located, where the oldest wooden tools were discovered.
