Leonardo da Vinci may have pioneered wood charring techniques before the Japanese. Research suggests Leonardo documented the protective benefits of charred wood over a century before the Japanese practice of Yakisugi was codified. The findings were published in Zenodo, an open repository for EU-funded research.

Yakusugi, a Japanese architectural technique, involves charring wood to protect it from the elements. Written records of Yakisugi date back to the 17th and 18th centuries. Leonardo's notes, predating these records by over 100 years, describe similar benefits.

This discovery could reshape our understanding of historical technological innovation. Experts are now re-evaluating Leonardo's notebooks for further insights. The notebooks contain over 13,000 pages of inventions and observations.

Leonardo da Vinci was a prolific inventor and artist of the Renaissance era. His notebooks contain designs for flying machines, weapons, and other advanced technologies. Only a fraction of his notes have survived to this day.

Researchers will continue to analyze Leonardo's codices. They hope to uncover more of his forgotten innovations. This could lead to a broader understanding of early technological development.