The History of Wood
Wood has always been an important aspect in human history because trees have always been around. Wood is a tissue of the tree produced in the secondary xylem. It transports water to the leaves and other growing tissues and supports the growth of the tree. Long before humans walked the earth, trees have been providing protection, shelter, and nourishment for various other animals. Today, they serve the same purpose albeit in various forms. Humans have learned the many ways that we can use trees to help us survive.
The most common use of wood that has been used for millennia is for fuel. Wood burns well, especially hardwood, and the heat from the fire can be used most obviously for warmth. But fire also keeps predators away and cooks meats, vegetables and boils water. Not only that, but without wood, we would not have been able to survive since it was an essential part of weaponry. Of course, we used stone tools, but many times early humans would use large wood clubs as well as wooden shafts for arrows, and of course for their bows. Today, we do not use wood stoves or use wood for our weapons, but we still do create buildings, ships, floorings, dressers and chairs, and print paper and cardboard all from trees and wood. Of course, we’ve also used wood for non-essential objects as well such as the diminishingly popular wooden car toys and train sets. With wood prices ever skyrocketing because of transport prices and deforestation, many developers have tried to find new ways to reclaim wood and lumber.
Not only have we used wood to actually create our homes, but we have also utilized wood indirectly for building. Sure pyramids were mostly made out of limestone; however they were also created with the use of wood. Massive stone blocks were lifted with the use of wooden logs and the larger 2.5 ton blocks were thought to have been dragged across an inclined wooden ramp. Other cultures have placed large stone blocks on top or wooden logs and rolled them to their destination. We’ve also used wood to construct machines that would do the heavy lifting for us, such as the wooden crane that the Romans used. Even today we use wood for transporting other goods. Many rail tracks still employ wooden sleepers although today people are switching over to concrete.
Wood and trees have also been an important part in the mythology of almost every culture. The Nords had the Yggrdasil that connects the heavens and the earth, the Hindus have the Ashvashtha world tree, and of course the Christians have the Tree of Knowledge. There are countless other accounts of world trees in other cultures. The world trees have the purpose of connecting two different worlds with each other (heaven and earth generally). It is where people go for guidance and it is generally the only thing left after the end of the world mythology.
Perhaps because of its many numbered uses, we have also employed wood in various ways to create art. Of course we’ve created paper from wood, which we’re going to actually go over in our next issue. But there are plenty of people who have molded wood to create works of art. Most famous wood sculptures are the Native American totem poles. These poles have various meanings from mythology to family lineage to notable events. In Mexico, there are the famed Oaxaca wood carvings. These small wood carvings depict everyday people and objects and vary in size. Some of the finest wood carvings come from the Middle Ages in Italy and France, mostly with Christian iconography and there is wood carving in some aspect or another in almost every culture and time period.
Like the child that carves initials into a tree, humans have always carved wood to fit our various needs.