Neanderthals knew how to twist the threads 50 thousand years ago

Perhaps they have learned to weave a network and to make clothes.

In the caves of Abri du Maras in South East France discovered a fragment of thread, made about 50 thousand years ago.

This is the most ancient example of twisting fibers known to science, according to a study published in Scientific Reports.

Bruce hardy of the Kenyon College in the city of Gambier (Ohio, USA) and his team in the study of ancient strata in the cave found a sharp stone disc is one of the typical tools of primitive people. Study it under the microscope showed that to the underside of the stone stuck a tiny piece of thread with a length of only 6 mm and a width of 0.5 mm.

the Thread turned out to be three layers. Three bundles of fibers twisted together in a clockwise direction. Before that, each of the beams separately twisted counterclockwise. Scientists suggest that the thread was made from bast fibres extracted from the bark of coniferous trees. It was not very durable and is not used for serious problems.

Until now, the oldest was considered the thread age 19 thousand years old, found in Israel near sea of Galilee. It produced Homo sapiens.

Anna Lysenko

Even more interesting about science and technology