A Stone Age wooden post that is thought to be one of the oldest artefacts of its kind in Europe has been unearthed at a wind farm site in south Wales. The 'intricately' carved timber has been dated as 6,270 years old, from the late Mesolithic or early Neolithic era. The discovery was made in September 2012 at Maerdy Wind Farm in Rhondda Cynon Taf (Wales).
     It is thought the 1.7m (5ft 6in) tall post may have marked a tribal boundary, hunting round or sacred site. More excavations were carried out at the water-logged peat but no more artefacts were found.
     The post was sent to Newport's Ship Centre, where it was kept in a water holding tank and scanned by 3D laser. In addition to its carvings, the post was found to have an oval motif at one end. The post has been examined by experts from the University of Wales, Trinity St David, and the Glamorgan Gwent Archaeological Trust.

Edited from BBC News (17 July 2013)