Archaeologists from Wessex Archaeology made an extraordinary discovery during an excavation for a habitat project. While digging, they unearthed a wooden tool that turned out to be one of the oldest and most complete ever found in the UK.
Wessex Archaeology announced the find in a press release this week.
Initially, the excavation near Poole Harbour at a construction site in a wetlands habitat yielded few noteworthy items, just a few shards of pottery and some flint, according to Environment Agency archaeologist Greg Chuter, who spoke about the findings in a video released by Wessex Archaeology.
The discovery of the wooden tool, however, changed the course of the excavation.
Preliminary scientific dating placed the tool’s origin between 1500 and 1400 B.C., as stated by Ed Treasure of Wessex Archaeology in the video. Radiocarbon dating confirmed the tool’s age at approximately 3,400 to 3,500 years old.
“This is an incredibly exciting moment, and we’re looking forward to finding out more as the process unfolds,” Treasure said of the discovery.
The tool, crafted from a single piece of wood, likely took many hours to create, highlighting its value in the past.
“We’re working across a vast landscape that is dominated by nature with very little to suggest to the naked eye that much human activity has taken place here,” Chuter stated in a press release.
“However, just beneath the surface, we’ve uncovered evidence of the ways humans have cleverly adapted to the challenges presented by this particular environment for over 3,000 years. The spade is a fascinating part of the story and, as research continues, we’re looking forward to exploring the relationship between the spade and the ditch and what else they can tell us about life at Arne Moors 3,000 years ago.”
The discovery of this tool is rare because of its age and well-preserved condition.
The last time a Bronze Age wooden tool was discovered in Britain with similar qualities was when the Brynlow shovel was found in a Cheshire mine in 1875.
The wooden tool’s exceptional condition further adds to its rarity.
Tools made of organic materials, like wood, often don’t survive in the ground for such long periods. However, this tool’s exceptional state is attributed to its waterlogged environment.
The wooden tool is currently undergoing full conservation and further studies under special care.