The Role Of Wood Through The Ages

Ever since our forbears evolved on planet Earth many, many thousands of years ago, they relied on wood to create fire…… a vital resource for their survival.

Their reliance on wood came in many other ways….. for Tools, Weapons, Shelters, Cooking, Food Gathering, Transportation, Art and Ritual.

Fire

Scientists have unearthed the oldest known evidence of fire making in a disused clay pit in Suffolk, UK.

The discovery shows that humans were able to make fire 350,000 years eartlier than was previously thought.

Early humans learned how to produce

fire by rubbing sticks together or

striking wood with stone.

Tools and Weapons

Early people carved sticks to make digging tools, clubs and spears for hunting.

Over time these tools became more sophisticated through attaching sharpened stone blades to wooden handles. The properties of wood, being lightweight, strong and easy to shape, were ideal for early toolmaking.

Shelters and Other 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.

Cooking and Food Gathering

Much of the kitchenware was made from wood…..bowls, skewers, and spoons…… as well as digging implements to plant and harvest root crops.

Wood was used to make containers and to roast meat over fires.

Transport

Early humans made rafts and dug out canoes from hollowed out logs, which were vital for fishing and travel.

Wooden sledges or frames were used for dragging heavy loads.

Art and Ritual

Wood was carved into figurines, totems and musical instruments like flutes and drums.

Trees had symbolic and spiritual significance in many ancient cultures.

Wood was one of the first all-purpose materials, which provided warmth, tools, shelter and even art. It shaped much of early human life before the use of metal and advanced technology.

It is only in recent mellenia that diverse art forms have developed using wood as its primary material. We will explore these art forms throughout this blog.