Scientists have discovered a set of weird 12,000-year-old doughnut shaped tools at a dig-site in Northern Israel.
The rolling stones predate the currently known oldest set of wheels by 6,000 years, according to a study published in Plos One.
They are thought to have belonged to settlements of the Natufians, an ancient culture situated in what is now Israel, Palestine and Jordan.
Researchers believe these tools allowed the Natufians to produce early textiles, possibly used for bags or fishing lines by acting a spindle whorls.
Talia Yashuv and Professor Leore Grosman from the Hebrew University’s Insтιтute of Archaeology analysed more than 100 holey limestone pebbles from the Nahal Ein Gev II excavation site.
Professor Grosman said: “These Natufian perforated stones are actually the first wheels in form and function – a round object with a hole in the centre connected to a rotating axle, used long before the appearance of the wheel for transportation purposes.”
“This early use paved the way for future wheel-based rotational innovations, key advancements that revolutionised human technological history such as the potter’s wheel and the cart wheel that appears 6,000 years ago.
“This study not only expands our understanding of technological innovation but also showcases how advanced research tools reveal insights into prehistoric craftsmanship, underscoring humanity’s enduring drive for innovation.”
Yashuv added: “While the perforated pebbles were kept mostly at their natural unmodified shape, they represent wheels in form and function.”
The recent discovery marks the earliest known evidence of this fast-spinning technology, predating previously known textile tools by 4,000 years and highlighting an important stage in human innovation.
The team also recreated the stones using 3D scanning technology to see if the pebbles could be used as spindle whorls.
