History of the Shovel
During the Neolithic Era and the Early Bronze Era, people used shovels made from an ox's scapula (shoulder-blade) as a form of a shovel. In China, they used spades that closely resemble the ones we use today as early as 1100 B.C
The shovel plays a role in Greek mythology in the woodcut of Deucalion's wife Pyrrha holding a long handled shovel. They had fled to Mt. Parnassus to reestablish a community. Pyrrha was holding the shovel as a symbol for making buildings in the community. (link)
Unfortunately, I couldn't find the woodcut, but here is a picture of Pyrrha (link)
The shovel has helped build canals, roads and railroads. When building the Trans-Continental Railroad roads, people had to make a space for tracks using shovels. While there are barely any historic moments having to do solely with the shovel, there are many historic events and inventions that were made possible by the shovel.