The Oldest Wheel In The World is More Than 5,000 Years-Old
Intro
The invention of the wheel emerges as a remarkable human achievement, essential for the advancement of civilizations. Wheels are integral to various aspects of daily life, such as farming and construction. The invention of the wheel is perhaps humanity’s most outstanding feat of engineering. It has allowed us to prosper and build entire civilizations because of it.
While we might not pay a lot of attention to it, the fact is that wheels are used in every aspect of our lives. From farming to construction and everything in between. Alongside the discovery of fire, the invention of the wheel propelled human civilization to the next stage of development, from a nomadic lifestyle to a new sedentary life that would make entire civilizations flourish.
While currently it is not known when the first wheel was invented, we have archaeological evidence of the oldest wheel to date ever found, known as the Ljubljana Marshes Wheel.
Ljubljana Marshes Wheel
The Ljubljana Marshes Wheel was discovered in 2002 near the Slovenian capital of the same name. It is the oldest known wooden wheel, approximately 5,150 years old, boasting a 72-centimeter diameter and a 124-centimeter-long oak handle.
The wheel and axle were scorched and covered in ash, probably to protect it from pests. It was found that the construction was very technologically advanced, given that the aperture for the axle in the wheel was square, meaning that the wheel and the axle rotated together as part of a cart.
This is known as a tenon arrangement, in which two planks of wood are held together with four braces, and the braces are fitted into tenoned slots carved into the two main wheel sections.
The discovery was made in a pile-dwelling settlement near the Iška River. The original Ljubljana Marsh settlement was originally discovered in 1875, and since 2011 has been declared a protected World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Analysis of the settlement revealed that it was periodically repaired every 10 to 20 years.
In the region, it appears the first inhabitants settled around 9,000 years ago and built temporary residences in the marshes. The first permanent settlements appeared to be from approximately 6000 years ago during the Neolithic Age.
Radiocarbon Dating
The invention of the wheel seemed to have happened simultaneously in Europe and Mesopotamia. However, the radiocarbon dating of the Ljubljana Marshes Wheel has shown that it is approximately 5,150 years old, making it the oldest wooden wheel to date.
The Ljubljana Marshes Wheel can be currently seen in the permanent exhibit of the City Museum of Ljubljana.
This discovery also sheds light on the simultaneous development of the wheel in Europe and Mesopotamia. Today, the Ljubljana Marshes Wheel is on display at the City Museum of Ljubljana, serving as a tangible link to our ancient technological achievements.
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