A Glimpse Into Early Human Transportation
Researchers have uncovered fossilized drag marks in White Sands, New Mexico, that may provide the earliest evidence of a handcart-like transportation method—dating back an astonishing 22,000 years. This discovery suggests that long before the invention of wheeled vehicles, early humans developed innovative ways to move goods and resources.
Discovering Ancient Drag Marks
Drag-marks at White Sands National Park (New Mexico). A. Drag-marks preserved in dolomite on a tracked horizon. B. Two drag-marks forming an x-shape. C. Drag-mark consisting of two parallel ridges. (Author provided)
The drag marks were found alongside some of the oldest known human footprints in the Americas. These footprints, dating back around 23,000 years, have already challenged previous timelines of human migration into the region. Though some scholars debate the dating methods, these footprints offer a vivid glimpse into life at the end of the last Ice Age.
Among the fossilized footprints, researchers observed long, parallel grooves in the sediment, suggesting that people dragged objects along the ground. These findings align with the concept of a travois—a simple frame made of wooden poles used to transport loads by dragging them across the terrain.
Experimental Testing Confirms Theory
Modern analogue experiments with travois in Poole Harbour (UK) and on a beach in Maine (US). Zoe Reynolds-Bennett and Isobelle Urban are thanked for their assistance. The top panel shows three types of travois, In the middle example placing a pad beneath the contact point reduced friction. The bottom panel shows our field experiments. (Author provided)
To validate their hypothesis, researchers conducted experiments in the UK and the US, using various configurations of wooden poles on mudflats. The resulting drag marks closely resembled those found at White Sands, reinforcing the idea that early humans likely used a similar technique.
Additionally, the tracks indicate that multiple individuals, including children, traveled alongside the drag marks. This suggests a communal effort, possibly moving essential supplies or hunted game from one location to another.
Insights From Indigenous Knowledge
Images of travois. A. Historic photograph of Blackfeet man and woman wearing striped trade blankets with a horse and travois. Danita Delimont/Alamy Stock Photo. B. Using a travois to haul boating gear to the Chetco River in Oregon's Siskiyou Mountains. (Leon Werdinger/Alamy Stock Photo/Author provided)
Collaborating with Indigenous groups in the region provided further support for the interpretation of these marks. Indigenous traditions have long described the use of travois structures, which were historically pulled by dogs or horses. However, these new findings suggest that early humans were using this method long before domesticated animals assisted in transport.
A Precursor to the Wheel?
The earliest known wheeled vehicles appeared around 5,000 years ago in Mesopotamia. The White Sands discovery suggests that humans had already developed efficient transport systems thousands of years earlier. Given that wooden tools and structures typically decay over time, evidence of ancient transport methods is rare, making these drag marks a particularly significant find.
Conclusion
The White Sands discovery sheds new light on early human ingenuity, highlighting how our ancestors adapted to their environment with practical solutions for moving resources. Whether used for relocating camps or hauling meat from a successful hunt, these travois-like structures represent an early form of transportation that predates the wheel by millennia. This finding not only deepens our understanding of prehistoric human life but also underscores the continuity of innovation throughout human history.
