12,000-year-old stones may be very early evidence of wheel-like technology Stones were likely used by early human cultures as spindle whorls to turn fibers into yarn Date: November 14, 2024 Source ...

12,000-year old stones may be very early evidence of wheel-like technology Stones were likely used by early human cultures as spindle whorls to turn fibers into yarn Peer-Reviewed Publication PLOS ...

This collection of spindle whorls would represent a very early example of humans using rotation with a wheel-shaped tool.

It's possible that the wheel was invented by copper miners in the Carpathian Mountains up to 6,000 years ago, according to a modeling study that uses techniques from structural mechanics.

The wheel is probably the single greatest invention in history. Its importance to the development of mankind — and its influence on our world today — is incalculably huge.