"Uncovering Ancient Rope-Making Tools: The 35,000-Year-Old Ivory Baton"
Historians at the University of Tübingen have discovered that an ancient ivory baton, previously thought to be a work of art, was actually used by early humans over 35,000 years ago to make rope. The baton, found in a German cave, was found to have wear and residue consistent with rope-making, and experiments with a replica confirmed its functionality in this regard. This finding sheds new light on the technological capabilities of early humans and their use of natural materials for practical purposes.