Neanderthals, ancient relatives of modern humans, are often associated with the stone tools that give the Stone Age its name. However, archaeologists have now uncovered remarkable new evidence of their woodworking abilities.
In a recent study published in Science Advances, researchers reported important new evidence of Neanderthal woodworking at the Abric Romaní archaeological site in Spain.
Because of its organic nature, wood typically decays over time, making ancient wooden objects exceptionally rare in the archaeological record. The discoveries at Abric Romaní therefore offer an unusual opportunity to develop a more complete understanding of Neanderthal life and technology.
Wooden Artifacts at a Neanderthal Site
Over four decades of excavation, archaeologists recovered an extraordinary collection of 597 wooden remains and impressions at the rock shelter, located near Barcelona. The findings offer new insights into the sophisticated lives of Neanderthals, including the possible use of wooden weapons, tools, and household objects.
The collection was recovered from 16 archaeological levels dating to between approximately 62,000 and 40,000 years ago.
Researchers from IPHES-CERCA and Universitat Rovira i Virgili analyzed the discoveries, helping fill a major gap in our understanding of Neanderthal material culture, much of which has traditionally been reconstructed from surviving stone artifacts.
Their analysis suggests that wood was not simply gathered and burned as fuel but was also routinely used as a material for making tools and other objects.
The presence of wooden remains across multiple archaeological layers indicates that Neanderthals repeatedly worked with wood at this location over thousands of years, suggesting an established practice rather than isolated incidents.
Preservation of Ancient Wood
Although wood typically decomposes, leaving little behind for archaeologists to study, conditions at Abric Romaní were different.
At this site, calcium carbonate accumulated around wooden objects, creating natural molds that preserved impressions of materials that have long since decayed. Some of these impressions retained remarkable detail, allowing researchers to examine features associated with the wood’s internal structure.
Crucially, the archaeological layers provide a broader picture extending well beyond the unusual preservation of wooden objects.
Animal bones, stone tools, and hearths were also discovered alongside the wooden remains. Because these materials are more commonly preserved at Neanderthal sites, their presence alongside evidence of woodworking allows researchers to reconstruct how different materials were used together in daily life.
Within a single archaeological setting, the team could investigate how Neanderthals combined tools, resources, and fire in their everyday activities.
Neanderthal Craftsmanship
Although researchers documented nearly 600 wooden remains and impressions, most were not deliberately shaped by Neanderthals. Many represented naturally occurring roots, branches, twigs, and trunks, as well as wood gathered for fuel.
However, 13 pieces showed evidence suggesting they had been shaped or used as tools by Neanderthals.
Among the most intriguing discoveries were two possible close-range wooden spears, one measuring approximately 2.5 meters in length and the other around two meters. The shorter specimen displayed evidence of deliberate sharpening, making these exceptionally rare examples of Paleolithic wooden weapons.
Another unusual object was a carved piece of wood resembling a mace, featuring what appears to be a handle and a thicker end. Its intended purpose remains unknown, and researchers have identified no clear parallel among previously documented archaeological finds.
The team also identified possible bark trays or containers, along with two crossed wooden poles that may have supported a platform used in food preparation.
Together, these discoveries paint a more complex picture of Neanderthal technological abilities, revealing how they worked with a variety of materials to produce objects for everyday use, some of which continue to puzzle archaeologists.
The paper, “Neanderthal Woodworking at Abric Romaní: Insights into the Role of Wood in a Middle Palaeolithic Domestic Context,” appeared in Science Advances on October 7, 2026.
Ryan Whalen covers science and technology for The Debrief. He holds an MA in History and a Master of Library and Information Science with a certificate in Data Science. He can be contacted at ryan@thedebrief.org, and follow him on Twitter @mdntwvlf.