eng
Українська
русский

A 7000-year-old fire tool discovered in China: what makes it unique

Maria Tsikhotska

A 7000-year-old fire tool discovered in China: what makes it unique
A 7000-year-old fire-making tool discovered in China. Source: Xinhua reports.

Archaeologists in the Chinese province of Jiangsu have made a unique discovery - the oldest and longest tool for making fire. This discovery has become a real sensation, as it sheds light on the lifestyle of people who lived in modern China more than 7000 years ago.

According to Interesting Engineering, during excavations at the Kaoyangan archaeological site, researchers discovered more than 3000 artifacts, including bone tools, ceramics, wooden objects, and animal remains. However, the most significant discovery was a tool for starting a fire, which is the best preserved among such artifacts.

According to excavation leader Gan Huiyuan of the Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, the tool found is not only unique in its length (about 60 cm), but also demonstrates a high level of technical development of ancient people. It consisted of a wooden drill and a bridge that served as the basis for drilling. A special feature of the artifact is a circular groove, probably intended for threading a rope, which allowed it to be carried or hung.

See also: The size of a palm: bones of the world's smallest cat, which lived 300 thousand years ago, were found in China (photo)

The researchers note that the preservation of a wooden tool after thousands of years is extremely rare, which makes the discovery even more significant. Traces of firing were also found on the surface of the artifact - 10 black indentations indicating its active use.

This discovery confirms that the people who inhabited the region 7,000 years ago had sophisticated fire production technologies that could be widely used in the society of the time. The discovery is another proof of how important the ability to control fire was in the development of human civilization.

If you want to get the latest news about the war and events in Ukraine, subscribe to our Telegram channel!