Overview

• The wooden spade, dating back to the Bronze Age, was found in a wetland near Poole Harbour, Dorset, by Wessex Archaeology.
• Preserved due to waterlogged conditions, the spade is one of the oldest and most complete wooden tools discovered in the UK.
• Radiocarbon dating places the spade's origins between 3400-3500 years ago, during a period of significant societal change in prehistoric Britain.
• Experts suggest the spade could have been used for cutting peat or digging ring gullies, indicating seasonal use of the landscape.
• The find is part of the Moors at Arne project, which aims to create new wetlands to offset habitat loss from climate change.