Ever heard of the oldest well in the world? A 7,200-year-old Neolithic well unearthed last year in Eastern Europe is thought to be the
world’s oldest known wooden structure.
The oak-based well was discovered by archaeologists in the Czech Republic whilst they were excavating near the site of the new D35
motorway. The site is about 120 kilometres (75 miles) east of Prague, near the town of Ostrov.
Soon after, experts began to speculate that the well could potentially be the oldest wooden structure ever discovered in Europe. Since
then, radiocarbon dating and dendrochronological dating (otherwise known as tree ring dating) have confirmed that the well was most likely
constructed from Oak trees that were cut down around 5255 BC.
‘We have carried out a dendrochronological analysis and confirmed it with radiocarbon dating. The well dates back to 5,256-5,255 BC.’
Said Jaroslav Peska from the Archaeological Centre in the Eastern Czech city of Olomouc.
He then went on to explain that there is no other man-made wooden structure in the world that has been proven older by
dendrochronological dating. He comments that this could easily change later down the line.
This places the well and the people who made it at the end of the Neolithic period. This is also when the first farming populations appeared
in Europe, which means that these people were most likely responsible for the construction of the well.
According to the study, the block-shaped well is 140cm high with a square top, where each side measures 80cm. Four wooden stakes
make up the corners of the structure, with planks placed in between their grooves.
One thing that surprised archaeologists was that the corner posts seemed to originally have been from a previous structure that used felled
trees. Additionally, the planks are at least 10 years younger than the rest of the structure, suggesting that it has undergone repairs at some
stage.
Jaroslav Peska mentions that although people have found wood that is likely to be older than the well, there isn’t any dendrochronological
data available for it, therefore the age of the wood is inconclusive.
In Hungary, some wood has been found that is likely to be older than the well, but currently, its age has only been determined by
radiocarbon dating which isn’t precise enough to know exactly when the tree was felled.
Although wooden structures from a similar period have been discovered in other areas of Europe, the Czech well is one of the few that has
been analyzed through tree-ring dating and therefore has been given a more precise age.
The research team who have been studying the well have explained that the structure’s complete history is still being uncovered, but they
believe the reason it has lasted so long is that the surrounding conditions were perfect. The area was damp with a lack of oxygen which
caused the wood to become solid and durable.
Jaroslav Peska explained that the well seems to have been built using construction techniques that were used in the Bronze, Iron, and even the Roman age.
‘We had no idea that the first farmers, who only had tools made of stone, bones, horns or wood, we’re able to process the surface of felled
trunks with such precision,’ he said.
Researchers recognize the well’s importance and are working hard to preserve the structure in its current form. Once it has been fully
treated, it will go on display at the Pardubice Museum.
Karol Bayer (Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Restoration, University of Pardubice) said it is the oldest object by far that the Faculty of
Restoration is working on. They are going to make sure it is well preserved. She comments that this isn’t going to be a simple task.
