Editing Woodworking (section)

==History==

Along with [[Rock (geology)|stone]], [[clay]] and animal parts, wood was one of the first materials worked by [[early human]]s. [[Lithic analysis|Microwear analysis]] of the [[Mousterian]] [[stone tool]]s used by the [[Neanderthal]]s show that many were used to work wood. The development of civilization was closely tied to the development of increasingly greater degrees of skill in working these materials.

Among the earlliest finds of woodworking are shaped sticks displaying notches from [[Kalambo Falls]] in southen Africa, dating to around 476,000 years ago.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Barham |first=L. |last2=Duller |first2=G. A. T. |last3=Candy |first3=I. |last4=Scott |first4=C. |last5=Cartwright |first5=C. R. |last6=Peterson |first6=J. R. |last7=Kabukcu |first7=C. |last8=Chapot |first8=M. S. |last9=Melia |first9=F. |last10=Rots |first10=V. |last11=George |first11=N. |last12=Taipale |first12=N. |last13=Gethin |first13=P. |last14=Nkombwe |first14=P. |date=2023-10-05 |title=Evidence for the earliest structural use of wood at least 476,000 years ago |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-023-06557-9 |journal=Nature |language=en |volume=622 |issue=7981 |pages=107–111 |doi=10.1038/s41586-023-06557-9 |issn=0028-0836 |pmc=10550827 |pmid=37730994}}</ref> The [[Clacton Spear|Clacton spearhead]] from [[Clacton-on-Sea]], England, dating to around 400,000 years ago,<ref name="Allington">Allington-Jones, L., (2015) ''Archaeological Journal'', 172 (2) 273–296 The Clacton Spear – The Last One Hundred Years</ref> the [[Schöningen spears]], from [[Schöningen]] ([[Germany]]) dating around 300,000 years ago<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last=Hutson |first=Jarod M. |last2=Villaluenga |first2=Aritza |last3=García-Moreno |first3=Alejandro |last4=Turner |first4=Elaine |last5=Gaudzinski-Windheuser |first5=Sabine |date=November 2024 |title=Persistent predators: Zooarchaeological evidence for specialized horse hunting at Schöningen 13II-4 |url=https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0047248424000988 |journal=Journal of Human Evolution |language=en |volume=196 |pages=103590 |doi=10.1016/j.jhevol.2024.103590 |doi-access=free}}</ref> and the [[Lehringen spear]] from northern Germany, dating to around 120,000 years ago,<ref name=":03">{{cite journal |last1=Gaudzinski-Windheuser |first1=Sabine |last2=Kindler |first2=Lutz |last3=MacDonald |first3=Katharine |last4=Roebroeks |first4=Wil |year=2023 |title=Hunting and processing of straight-tusked elephants 125.000 years ago: Implications for Neanderthal behavior |journal=Science Advances |volume=9 |issue=5 |pages=eadd8186 |bibcode=2023SciA....9D8186G |doi=10.1126/sciadv.add8186 |pmc=9891704 |pmid=36724231}}</ref> provide some of the first examples of wooden hunting implements. Wooden tools likely used for domestic activites including probable [[Stitching awl|awls]] have also been found at Schöningen.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Leder |first=Dirk |last2=Lehmann |first2=Jens |last3=Milks |first3=Annemieke |last4=Koddenberg |first4=Tim |last5=Sietz |first5=Michael |last6=Vogel |first6=Matthias |last7=Böhner |first7=Utz |last8=Terberger |first8=Thomas |date=2024-04-09 |title=The wooden artifacts from Schöningen’s Spear Horizon and their place in human evolution |url=https://pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2320484121 |journal=Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences |language=en |volume=121 |issue=15 |doi=10.1073/pnas.2320484121 |issn=0027-8424 |pmc=11009636 |pmid=38557183}}</ref>

[[Flint]] tools were used for carving. Since [[Neolithic|Neolithic times]], carved wooden vessels are known, for example, from the [[Linear Pottery culture]] [[water well|well]]s at Kückhofen and Eythra.

Examples of [[Bronze Age]] wood-carving include [[tree trunk]]s worked into [[coffin]]s from northern Germany and [[Denmark]] and wooden [[folding chair|folding-chair]]s. The [[List of archaeological sites by country|site]] of Fellbach-Schmieden in Germany has provided fine examples of wooden animal statues from the [[Iron Age]]. Wooden [[Cult image|idol]]s from the [[La Tène culture|La Tène]] period known from a sanctuary at the source of the [[Seine]] in [[France]].

===Ancient Egypt===
[[File:Maler der Grabkammer der Bildhauer Nebamun und Ipuki 004.jpg|thumb|Ancient Egyptian woodworking]]

There is significant evidence of advanced woodworking in [[ancient Egypt]].<ref name="Killen1994">{{cite book |title=Egyptian Woodworking and Furniture |publisher=Shire Publications |author=Killen, Geoffrey |year=1994 |isbn=0747802394}}</ref> Woodworking is depicted in many extant ancient Egyptian drawings, and a considerable amount of ancient Egyptian [[furniture]] (such as stools, [[chair]]s, [[Table (furniture)|tables]], [[bed]]s, [[Chest (furniture)|chests]]) have been preserved. Tombs represent a large collection of these artifacts and the inner coffins found in the tombs were also made of wood. The [[metal]] used by the [[Egyptians]] for woodworking tools was originally [[copper]] and eventually, after 2000 BC [[bronze]] as [[iron working]] was unknown until much later.<ref>Leospo, Enrichetta (2001), "Woodworking in Ancient Egypt", ''The Art of Woodworking'', [[Turin]]: [[Museo Egizio]], p. 20</ref>

Commonly used woodworking tools included [[axe]]s, [[adze]]s, [[chisel]]s, [[saw|pull saws]], and [[bow drill]]s. [[Mortise and tenon]] joints are attested from the earliest [[predynastic Egypt|Predynastic period]]. These joints were strengthened using pegs, [[Butt joint|dowels]] and [[leather]] or [[Rope|cord]] lashings. [[Animal glue]] came to be used only in the [[New Kingdom of Egypt|New Kingdom period]].<ref>Leospo, pp. 20–21</ref> Ancient Egyptians invented the art of [[Wood veneer|veneering]] and used [[varnish]]es for [[wood finishing|finishing]], though the composition of these varnishes is unknown. Although different native [[acacia]]s were used, as was the wood from the local [[Ficus sycomorus|sycamore]] and [[tamarisk]] trees, [[deforestation]] in the [[Nile valley]] resulted in the need for the importation of wood, notably [[Cedrus libani|cedar]], but also [[Aleppo Pine|Aleppo pine]], [[buxus|boxwood]] and [[oak]], starting from the [[Second Dynasty]].<ref>Leospo, pp. 17–19</ref>

===Ancient Rome===
Woodworking was essential to the Romans. It provided, material for buildings, transportation, tools, and household items. Wood also provided pipes, dye, waterproofing materials, and energy for heat.<ref name="Ulrich2008">{{cite book |title=Roman Woodworking |publisher=Yale University Press |author=Ulrich, Roger B. |year=2008 |isbn=9780300134605 |oclc=192003268}}</ref>{{rp|1}}Although most examples of Roman woodworking have been lost,<ref name="Ulrich2008" />{{rp|2}} the literary record preserved much of the contemporary knowledge. [[Vitruvius]] dedicates an entire chapter of his ''[[De architectura]]'' to timber, preserving many details.<ref name="Vitruvius">{{cite book |title=De architectura |author=Vitruvius |author-link=Vitruvius |at=1:2.9.1}}</ref> [[Pliny the Elder|Pliny]], while not a botanist, dedicated six books of his [[Natural History (Pliny)|''Natural History'']] to trees and woody plants, providing a wealth of information on trees and their uses.<ref>{{cite book |title=Natural History |url=https://archive.org/details/naturalhistory07plinuoft |author=Pliny |author-link=Pliny the Elder |year=1938}}</ref>

===Ancient China===
The progenitors of Chinese woodworking are considered to be [[Lu Ban]] (魯班 {{lang-zh|p=Lǔbān}}) and his wife Lady Yun, from the [[Spring and Autumn period]] (771 to 476 BC).  Lu Ban is said to have introduced the [[plane (tool)|plane]], chalk-line, and other tools to China. His teachings were supposedly left behind in the book ''Lu Ban Jing'' (魯班經, "Manuscript of Lu Ban")(魯班經 {{lang-zh|p=Lǔbān jīng}}). Despite this, it is believed that the text was written some 1500 years after his death. This book is filled largely with descriptions of dimensions for use in building various items such as [[flower pot]]s, tables, [[altar]]s, etc., and also contains extensive instructions concerning [[Feng Shui]]. It mentions almost nothing of the intricate glue-less and nail-less [[Woodworking joints|joinery]] for which [[Chinese furniture]] was so famous.