Cordage (twisted fibre string)
Cuerda y cordelería (fibras retorcidas)
- Date
- c. 50 ka · confidence medium
- Place
- Abri du Maras, Ardèche, France
- Credited to
- Neanderthals
- Field
- Tools
⚠️ Disputed: the sources disagree.
What it is
A fragment of three-ply cord made from conifer bark fibre, adhering to a flake. Twisting fibres multiplies their strength and creates the first manufactured flexible material.
The identification of the Neanderthal fragment has been debated; the cords from Ohalo II (19 ka) and the impressions from Pavlov (27 ka) are unambiguous.
What it led to
- Bindings for hafting, nets, traps, bows and boats
- Implicit arithmetic: odd and even numbers of strands, S and Z twist
- Transport systems: bags, baskets, load lashing
Built on
Made possible
- Open-sea crossing to Sahul (watercraft)c. 65 ka
- Bow and arrowc. 64 ka
- Eyed bone needlec. 50 ka
- Spun, dyed and knotted wild flax fibres from Dzudzuanac. 32 ka
- Basketryc. 27 ka
- Woven plant-fibre textilesc. 27 ka
- Brush hutc. 23 ka
- Shell fishhookc. 23 ka
- Fishing net with sinkersc. 21 ka
- Bow drillc. 7000 BCE
- Matting and basketryc. 7000 BCE
- Nålebinding (single-needle looping textile)c. 6500 BCE
- Loom weaving and spindle whorlc. 6500 BCE
- Sledgec. 6500 BCE
- Reed boat sealed with bitumenc. 5300 BCE
- Slingc. 5000 BCE
- Animal traction: draught oxen and yokec. 4000 BCE
- Sail and sailing boatc. 3500 BCE
- Horse domesticationc. 3500 BCE (discutido)
- Frame backpackc. 3300 BCE
- Carpenter's marking line (chalk line, mòdòu, sumitsubo)c. 2500 BCE
- Horse bit and bridle with reinsc. 2000 BCE
- Quipu (knotted-string record)c. 800 CE
- Bobbin lacec. 1550
- Fishing net with sinkers
- Bow and arrow
- Basketry
- Woven plant-fibre textiles