Nearly half a million years ago, early humans were shaping their surroundings in ways previously thought impossible. A discovery in Zambia back in 2023 revealed a 476,000-year-old wooden structure, which is believed to be the oldest known wooden construction in the world. The find has surprised archaeologists and is changing what we know about early human innovation.
The structure was found at Kalambo Falls, near the Zambia-Tanzania border, by researchers from the University of Liverpool and Aberystwyth University. Their study, published in a journal called Nature, showed that early humans at the site deliberately shaped and joined two large wooden logs, possibly to build a platform, walkway, or shelter base. This is the earliest known example of people crafting logs to fit together.
Normally, wood from such ancient times would have rotted away, but the high water levels and fine sediment at Kalambo Falls helped preserve it.
Luminescence dating confirmed the logs were at least 476,000 years old, meaning they predate Homo sapiens by more than 100,000 years.
Professor Larry Barham, who led the research, said: “This find has changed how I think about our early ancestors.
“Forget the label ‘Stone Age’ – look at what these people were doing. They made something new, and large, from wood.
“They used their intelligence, imagination, and skills to create something they’d never seen before, something that had never previously existed.”
Alongside the structure, researchers found stone tools, a wedge, and a digging stick, suggesting these early humans had advanced tool-making skills.
Some archaeologists believe wooden tools were more common than stone tools in prehistory, but because wood decomposes over time, little evidence of them remains.
The discovery also challenges the idea that early humans were purely nomadic hunter-gatherers.
Kalambo Falls was a reliable water source, and the nearby forests provided plenty of food.
This suggests these early humans may have settled in one place for longer periods.
The site itself is of great historical importance and is currently on UNESCO’s tentative list for World Heritage status.
Professor Barham added: “They transformed their surroundings to make life easier, even if it was only by making a platform to sit on by the river to do their daily chores. These folks were more like us than we thought.”