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That whole 'stone tools only' theory bugged me at the Monte Verde site
Everyone kept saying early humans in Chile were just using basic rocks. I saw the preserved wooden planks and twisted plant fibers in the museum display. Dug into the excavation report from the 80s - they found cordage and even a digging stick. Walked over to the curator and asked if they considered woodworking as advanced. She laughed and said most visitors skip that case entirely. Anyone else notice how we ignore organic tools in these old dig sites?
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reese_patel4h ago
...and what if those preserved wood pieces are just rare exceptions that don't prove a widespread advanced toolkit? Most sites don't have that kind of preservation. Youre looking at one really well preserved spot and assuming that was the norm. Monte Verde is like a one in a million freeze frame. The organic stuff rots away everywhere else, so we're stuck with the rocks.
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reese_taylor696m ago
Totally get where you're coming from @reese_patel, it always bugs me when people take one freak preservation site and act like it proves everyone was using the same gear everywhere. The wood rot issue is so real, we're basically trying to read a book with most of the pages missing. Monte Verde is a rare peak behind the curtain, but that curtain is still down for 99% of other places.
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