Archaeologists have discovered a fire-drilling toolset estimated to be around 7,000 years old at an archaeological site in Jiangsu Province, eastern China. This find represents the earliest known physical evidence of fire-making technology ever uncovered in China.
Gan Huiyuan, a researcher at the provincial institute of cultural relics and archaeology and leader of the excavation at the Caoyangang site, explained that the toolset includes a drill stick and a fireboard.
The drill stick measures more than 60 centimeters in length, while the fireboard is over 30 centimeters long. The fireboard’s surface is marked with more than ten deep, blackened circular indentations, bearing clear traces of scorching, offering direct evidence of its use in ancient fire-making practices.
“This toolset is not only the longest found at the site but also the most well-preserved fire-drilling equipment discovered to date,” Gan said, adding that since the excavation began, multiple fire-drilling tools have been discovered there.
Additionally, archaeologists identified a circular groove on one end of the fireboard, likely intended for tying a rope. This feature suggests the fireboard was designed for convenient carrying or hanging.
The Caoyangang site, which spans more than 80,000 square meters, has yielded far more than just fire-making tools. Excavations have uncovered over 3,000 artifacts, including pottery, bone tools, wooden objects, and animal remains from deer, pigs, cattle, dogs, as well as various birds. Remains of aquatic plants were also found, offering further insight into the environment and resources available to the site’s ancient inhabitants.
According to archaeologists, these discoveries paint a vivid picture of the daily lives, craftsmanship, and aesthetic sensibilities of the people who once flourished in the region.
