Birch bark tar adhesive
Adhesivo de brea de abedul
- Date
- c. 200 ka · confidence medium
- Place
- Campitello quarry, Bucine (Arezzo), Italy
- Credited to
- Neanderthals
- Field
- Matter & energy
⚠️ Disputed: the sources disagree.
What it is
Flakes with residues of tar obtained by the dry distillation of birch bark, used for hafting. It is the first synthetic substance produced by controlled chemical transformation.
Königsaue (Germany, c. 80 ka) and Zandmotor (Netherlands, c. 50 ka) confirm the Neanderthal technique. Experiments show it can be obtained with simple methods, which qualifies its complexity.
What it led to
- Practical chemistry: transforming materials with controlled fire and no oxygen
- Reliable, repairable composite tools
- Reassessment of Neanderthal cognitive capacity
Built on
- Control of firec. 1 Ma
- Hafting of stone pointsc. 500 ka
- Ochre pigment usec. 300 ka
- Control of fire
- Hafting of stone points
Made possible
- Microliths (backed bladelets)c. 71 ka
- Bow and arrowc. 64 ka
- Spear-thrower (atlatl)c. 20 ka
- Ötzi's copper axec. 3300 BCE
- Spear-thrower (atlatl)
- Bow and arrow