News Archaeology

This is the oldest known string. It was made by a Neandertal

A cord fragment was found clinging to a stone tool at a French archaeological site

SEM image of Neandetal string

A scanning electron microscope photo shows a closeup view of fibers that were twisted into a string by Neandertals as early as 52,000 years ago. The ancient string fragment is about 6.2 millimeters long.

M.-H. Moncel

By Bruce Bower

- More than 2 years ago

In a new twist on Neandertals’ Stone Age accomplishments, our close evolutionary relatives wound bark fibers into strings that could have been used to make clothes, rope, nets and other practical but perishable items, a new study suggests.