# Neanderthal wooden tools preserved in stone

> Spanish archaeologists find 597 Neanderthal wooden tools preserved in limestone at Abric Romaní shelter.
- Title: Neanderthal wooden tools preserved in stone · Ars Technica
- Summary: Spanish archaeologists find 597 Neanderthal wooden tools preserved in limestone at Abric Romaní shelter. Neanderthals used wooden tools for daily tasks, not…
- Keywords: neanderthal, abric romaní, scots pine, juniper bark, travertine, wooden tools, neanderthal housekeeping, club, homo sapiens, paleolithic, technology, science
- Source: Ars Technica — https://arstechnica.com/science/2026/10/neanderthal-wooden-tools-from-spain-found-preserved-in-stone
- Published: 2026-10-09T22:34:03+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: neanderthal, abric romaní, scots pine, juniper bark, travertine, wooden tools, neanderthal housekeeping, club, homo sapiens, paleolithic, technology, science
## Stone Age wood preservation
Mineral-rich water coated wooden Neanderthal tools in limestone crust at Abric Romaní shelter.
## 597 wooden remains cataloged
Spanish archaeologists cataloged 597 wooden remains from Neanderthal living areas dating 62,000 to 40,000 years ago.
## Beyond hunting gear
Neanderthals used wooden tools for daily tasks including food carrying, hearth maintenance, and shelter building.
## Travertine molds
Calcium carbonate crust preserved wooden tools in hollow molds that show detailed wood cell patterns.
## 3D printing for research
Archaeologists 3d scanned and printed wooden tool molds for research and museum displays.
## 13 modified wooden tools
Only 13 wooden objects were made or modified by Neanderthals, all with unique morphologies.
## Juniper bark trays
Four juniper bark trays, largest 55 by 20 centimeters, may have carried food or scooped embers.
## Firewood and hearths
Neanderthals kept sleeping hearths 50 centimeters across spaced a meter apart with minimal debris.
## Spears and club
A 2.45-meter spear with impact fractures and a 16-centimeter wooden club were found near red deer skulls.
## Neanderthal complexity
Neanderthals knew wood properties, using Scots pine for tools and juniper for trays, showing planning and complexity.
## Challenging stereotypes
Neanderthals were not Homo sapiens' dumb cousins but had complex tool use and social behaviors.
## Key takeaway

Neanderthals used wooden tools for daily tasks, not just hunting, challenging the 'dumb cousins' stereotype.