Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 20, 2026
08:10
Environmentally Induced Heritable Changes in Flax
Published on: January 26, 2011
30,000-year-old wild flax fibers
Eliso Kvavadze1, Ofer Bar-Yosef, Anna Belfer-Cohen
1Institute of Paleobiology, National Museum of Georgia, Tbilisi 380007, Georgia.
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|September 12, 2009
Summary
Prehistoric hunter-gatherers in Georgia used wild flax fibers to create cords for tools, baskets, and clothing. These findings from Dzudzuana Cave date back over 32,000 years.
Area of Science:
- Archaeology
- Paleobotany
- Textile History
Background:
- The Upper Paleolithic period saw significant technological advancements in early human societies.
- Understanding early fiber use provides insights into the daily lives and resourcefulness of prehistoric peoples.
Observation:
- Wild flax fibers were discovered in Upper Paleolithic layers at Dzudzuana Cave, Caucasus, Georgia.
- The fibers were found to be spun, dyed, and knotted, indicating advanced processing.
- Cave deposits revealed intermittent human occupation from 32-26, 23-19, and 13-11 thousand years before present (kyr B.P.).
Findings:
- Prehistoric hunter-gatherers utilized wild flax for cordage, likely for hafting stone tools, weaving baskets, or sewing garments.
- The consistent presence of flax suggests a stable local environment supporting its growth despite climatic fluctuations.
- Evidence points to sophisticated textile production techniques dating back to the Upper Paleolithic.
Implications:
- This discovery pushes back the timeline for complex textile and cordage production in the region.
- It highlights the adaptability and technological capabilities of Upper Paleolithic hunter-gatherers.
- The findings contribute to our understanding of early human subsistence strategies and material culture in the Caucasus.
