Philippines discovers 40,000-year-old 'strange object' that turns human history upside down

In the Tabon Caves in the western Philippine province of Palawan, archaeologists have discovered traces of a technology that is tens of thousands of years "out of date" compared to previous understanding.

According to Ancient Origins, the oldest artifacts related to fiber technology were previously recorded in China, which is more than 8,000 years old. But the latest discovery in Tabon shows that an ancient community in the Philippines mastered this as early as 40,000 years ago .

Stone tools reveal that fiber technology was born at an incredible time in the Philippines - (Photo: PLOS ONE).

In a study recently published in the journal PLOS One, a team of scientists analyzed stone tools in Tabon Cave, a place famous for the numerous prehistoric human remains that have been excavated.

Microscopic evidence of wear and tear from manipulating plant fibers was revealed, suggesting that ancient people here were weaving ropes and baskets at an unimaginable time.

Extensive research has shown that communities in the region that the Philippines considers the cradle of civilization skillfully extracted tough fibers from rugged plants such as palm and bamboo for weaving and binding.

Tabon Cave - (Photo: ANCIENT ORIGINS).

Researcher Hermine Zhauflair from the University of the Philippines Diliman emphasizes the importance of fiber technology in human evolution.

This technological advance facilitated the assembly of diverse objects such as baskets, traps, ropes for building houses, bows and arrows for hunting. and later, sturdy, sailed boats.

The weaving and basket-making tools of these Southeast Asian Stone Age people were also different from those found in Africa and Europe, coming in a wider variety of sizes and shapes.

Scientists believe this change is due to their adaptation to the environment during the "age of bamboo" , a plant that grew commonly in the area.

This groundbreaking research not only sheds light on ancient textile technology in Southeast Asia , but also highlights the ingenuity of the region's earliest populations, as well as their remarkable adaptability.