There has been an unexpected discovery at Kalambo Falls, in Zambia, where it was hardly possible for the item to preserve its properties for a long period of time. Therefore, providing historical evidence was a much more difficult task. However, the two wooden logs were found placed by the means of a perfect notch under the waterlogged soil. The reason why this discovery should be regarded as valuable is the speed at which wood decomposes in comparison to our ability to make an important find.
At first sight, this artifact does not appear to be particularly unique. However, there is a detail about the find that greatly affected the way we think about our ancestors. The artifact, which is reportedly 476,000 years old, is significantly older than homo sapiens, according to a recent study published in Nature in 2023. Therefore, the wooden tool used by man is regarded as the oldest one discovered by researchers.
