SEOUL — South Korean archaeologists said Tuesday they have unearthed a rare neolithic period wooden boat oar, believed to date back about 7,000 years but still in good condition.
The oar was discovered in mud land in Changnyeong, 240 kilometres (140 miles) southeast of Seoul, the Gimhae National Museum said.
"This is a very rare find, not only in South Korea but also in the world," museum researcher Yoon On-Shik told AFP.
"We have to check with Chinese artefacts to confirm whether it is the oldest watercraft ever found in the world."
One of the oldest boats or related artefacts was found in China's Zhejiang province in 2005 and was believed to date back about 8,000 years.
The oar, which was found intact in its entirety, is 1.81 metres (nearly six feet) long.
"The oar was well preserved because fine mud layers completely blocked oxygen from decaying it," Yoon said.