Wood has been used by man since our earliest days as it provides a sustainable and strong material that is also very versatile and widely available. Some of these uses include:
400,000BC: the Schoningen spears are some of the first examples of wooden hunting gear, which were used because they were the best material available for the use as they could be made long and strong and sharpened easily.
600-700AD: the spread of Buddhism through the Far East brings toothbrushes and toothpicks from China.
1604: the first wooden railway was built in Wollaton, England.
1951: wooden currency was issued after the stock market crash until the regular coins became available again.
An unusual use for wood is in footwear, but during history a few cultures favoured wooden shoes. Most famous now are the traditional Dutch clogs which were used in agriculture and to provide stability while fishing by digging the pointed toe into the ground. These shoes had a second use, as when they were worn out they were burnt as firewood.
Another surprising use is within architectural models, where balsa wood is often utilised as it is incredibly light whilst still retaining some strength. It is also easily worked and malleable making it perfect for this application.
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