"Ancient masons... could carve marble at more than double the speed of today's craftsmen."
Evan Hadingon, Smithsonian Magazine
Chisel-like tools have been dated to the Paleolithic era, which stretches across a vast expanse of evolutionary time, from before the first Homo sapiens to roughly 10,000 B.C.E. During this time humans were making and refining stone tools, which became gradually more specialized overtime. Other materials were also used, and bone chisels from around 30,000 B.C.E. have been uncovered in Southern France, near the village of Aurignac. Although very difficult to date exactly, it is thought that by about 7500 B.C.E., what we would recognize today as a chisel was in fairly common use.
By the time of the Bronze Age, chisels had become quite varied and included gouges—chisels with curved blades—and tanged chisels, where the blade is connected to the handle by a collar. The Greek architect Manolis Korres believes the chisels used by the ancient Greeks were actually sharper and sturdier than today's versions. While working on restoring the Parthenon, Korres made reconstructions of various ancient tools by looking at tool marks in marble. Of course, the ancient Greeks needed specialized tools to craft their iconic temple in Acropolis.
During the medieval period, carpenters employed tools known as "former" chisels. These had a broad, flared blade, which was used to carve rough wood. A mallet could be used with stouter tools, called "firmer" chisels, to shape and finish wood. There were also other chisels for detailed and speciality work.
The chisel has changed little since medieval times, although you will probably find a less impressive selection of tools in a modern DIY store than you would have in a medieval carpenter's workshop.
