Wood carving is one of the oldest arts of humankind. Wooden spears from the Middle Paleolithic, such as the Clacton Spear, reveal how humans have engaged in utilitarian woodwork for millennia. However, given the relatively rapid rate at which wood decays in most environments, there are only isolated ancient artifacts remaining.
Indigenous People of North America carvings include many everyday objects such as wooden fishhooks and pipe stems. Similarly, Polynesian carving can be found on paddles and the tools of their trade. The natives of Guyana decorated their cassava grater with schemes of incised scrolls, while the natives of Loango Bay embellished their spoons with a design of figures standing up in full relief carrying a hammock. Wood carving is also present in their architecture.