“Reviving the Past: Could This 7,275-Year-Old Well Hold Secrets of Earth’s Earliest Civilizations?”
Two of the poles were felled three to nine years earlier than the others, suggesting they were previously used elsewhere before being repurposed for the well. One of the planks, too, was felled earlier, between 7,261 and 7,244 years ago. Experts believe this was due to a repair on the well.
While it isn’t official that it’s the oldest wooden structure still in existence, the research team makes a solid case. Though there are over 40 of these wells across Europe dating to similar timeframes, those dating estimates weren’t based on dendrochronology.
Archaeological Centre OlomoucThe ancient artifact is now being preserved with plain white sugar. It will be put on display at the Pardubice Museum in about two years.
For Peška, the craftsmanship used to build the well and the ingenuity it displays is most remarkable part of the discovery.
“The available technology, i.e., tools made of stone, bones, horn or wood, was sufficient for sophisticated carpentry,” he said. “Comparing the structure of the Ostrov well with examples of carpentry from later periods raises nothing less than admiration for the perfectly precise work.”
As it stands, researchers have replaced the water the well was submerged in with plain white sugar to ensure the artifact continues to be preserved.
“The wooden planks are submerged in this sucrose solution and will stay there for several months,” explained Peška. “During that time the damaged cellular structure of the wood will be replaced by sucrose, whose chemical composition is similar to cellulose in wood.”
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