A metre-long piece of carved wood discovered by chance is more than 6,000 years old – making it the oldest carved wood in Britain, experts say.
The decorative markings were made by Late Mesolithic people 2,000 years before Stonehenge was built and 4,500 years before the Romans came to Britain.
The piece of oak was discovered lying in peat during the construction of an outbuilding at a property in the village of Boxford in Berkshire.
Experts suggest the carving is 500 years older than the only other known Mesolithic carved timber in Britain, discovered near Maerdy in Wales.
Historic England has dated the specimen to the Late Mesolithic period (4640-4605 BCE).
The purpose of the markings on the wood is not known but they look similar to the decoration seen on early Neolithic pottery, experts suggest.
‘It’s remarkable that by doing routine building work a piece of modest-looking decorative wood turns out to be the oldest ever found in Britain,’ said Duncan Wilson, chief executive of Historic England.
‘This exciting find has helped to shine new light on our distant past and we’re grateful to the landowner for recognising its significance.
‘Amazing discoveries like these remind us of the power of archaeology to uncover the hidden narratives that connect us to our roots.’
The waterlogged carved oak is one metre long, 42 centimetres wide and 20 centimetres thick.
Timeline
9,700 – 4,000 BC Mesolithic period, also known as the ‘Middle Stone Age’. Communities in England practised a hunter-gatherer lifestyle, utilising stone tools and developing seasonal mobility
4,000 – 2,500 BC Neolithic period. Communities began using agriculture and farming, building permanent settlements, and creating communal structures like long barrows.
2,500 – 800 BC Bronze Age. The use of bronze, an alloy of copper and tin, became widespread. Communities engaged in agriculture, metalworking, and developed more complex societies. Burial mounds (barrows) and stone circles were constructed.
800 BC – AD 43 Iron Age. The use of iron tools and weapons became prominent. Societies in England became more organised, with the emergence of hillforts and tribal territories. Interaction with continental Europe increased, including trade and cultural influences.
AD 43 – Romans arrive in Britain.
Source: Historic England
It was discovered during ground works for the building of a workshop, and was found approximately 1.5 metres below the surface not far from the present course of the River Lambourn in a layer of peat.
Peat is able to preserve organic materials like wood over thousands of years because the normal processes of decay are slowed right down due to a lack of oxygen within the peat.
The timber was removed and later that day it was cleaned and found to have some markings that did not appear to be natural.
The markings on the wood are also believed to be similar to the body decoration on the Shigir Idol – a wooden sculpture found in the Ural mountains of Russia which, at 12,500 years old, is believed to be the oldest example of carved wood in the world.
Key facts about the Late Mesolithic people
Hunting and fishing Hunting played a crucial role in the late Mesolithic. People would hunt game such as red deer, roe deer, wild boar and small mammals using weapons like bows and arrows, spears, and traps. Fishing in rivers, lakes, and coastal areas was also an important food source.
Wild plants Gathering wild plant resources was essential for sustenance. People collected a variety of wild fruits, nuts, seeds and roots available in their local environment. They would also forage for edible greens and use various plants for medicinal and other purposes.
Seasonal migration Late Mesolithic communities often followed seasonal patterns of resource availability. They moved between different areas, exploiting different ecosystems throughout the year.
Temporary campsites Rather than permanent settlements, people in the late Mesolithic lived in temporary campsites. These campsites were occupied for short periods and then abandoned as they followed game or seasonally available resources.
Tools Stone tools remained crucial for daily activities. Flint, chert (a hard, fine-grained sedimentary rock) and other stones were used to create tools like scrapers, knives, arrowheads, and blades.
Art Decorative artwork is (sparsely) distributed throughout the archaeological record of the British Mesolithic period. Geometric patterns can be found on artefacts across the British Isles.
Source: Historic England
The landowner, Derek Fawcett, a retired urological surgeon, said: ‘It was a rather surprising find at the bottom of a trench dug for foundations for a new building.
‘It was clearly very old and appeared well preserved in peat. After hosing it down, we saw that it had markings that appeared unnatural and possibly man-made.
‘I have been working with Historic England and the Boxford History Project since I found it, now over four years ago, while radiocarbon dating of the wood was carried out.’
After being notified of the find in 2019, West Berkshire Council’s archaeologist Sarah Orr contacted Historic England for expert advice.
To coincide with museums week (June 5-11), Derek Fawcett has donated the timber to the West Berkshire Museum in Newbury where it will eventually go on display.
The museum is also working with the Boxford History Project to arrange for the timber to go on loan to the Boxford village Heritage Centre.
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