Ever since our forbears evolved on planet Earth many, many thousands of years ago, we have relied on wood for many of life’s essentials……….
🔥 1. Fire
- One of the earliest uses: Wood was burned for warmth, cooking, light, and protection.
- Early humans learned to produce fire by rubbing sticks together (friction) or striking wood with stone.
🪓 2. Tools and Weapons
- Simple tools: Early people carved sticks into digging sticks, clubs, or spears.
- Wood was lightweight, strong, and easy to shape — perfect for early tool-making.
🛖 3. Shelter and Structures
- Wood was used to build frames for huts or shelters, often combined with leaves, mud, or animal hides.
- In forested regions, people made lean-tos, log shelters, or lattice frameworks from branches.
🍴 4. Cooking and Food Gathering
- Wooden skewers, bowls, spoons, and digging sticks were common.
- Wood was used for containers before pottery appeared, and for roasting meat over fires.
🧭 5. Transportation
- Early humans made rafts and dugout canoes from hollowed logs — vital for fishing and travel.
- Wooden sleds or frames were used to drag heavy loads.
🎭 6. Art and Ritual
- Wood was carved into figurines, totems, and musical instruments (like early flutes or drums).
- It held symbolic and spiritual significance in many ancient cultures.
In short, wood was one of the first all-purpose materials — providing warmth, tools, shelter, and even art. It shaped much of early human life before the use of metal or advanced technology.
