New Archaeological Findings Push Back Origin of Archery by 40,000 Years

February 23, 2023 By Prelo Con

(Image Credit Google)

New research published in Science Advances provides the earliest evidence of Homo sapiens in Europe, dating back to between 70,000 and 60,000 years ago. The evidence was discovered in a rock shelter near the Rhône River valley, and it includes 852 artifacts such as cut stone points, blades, and flakes that suggest projectile weapons were used by ancient humans there. This is 10 to 12 millennia earlier than previously believed. Functional analyses of the lithic elements indicate that these early humans had mastered archery, pushing back the origin of these technologies in Eurasia by some 40,000 years. While no evidence of a bow was found at the site, the smaller cut stone points, known as micropoints, suggest the use of bow-and-arrow technologies. [caption id="attachment_96708" align="aligncenter" width="714"] evidence of Homo sapiens in Europe

Image credit: sciencedirect[/caption] Laure Metz, co-author of the study, said that archery technologies are difficult to identify in archaeological sites because they are based on perishable materials, such as wood, fibers, leather, resins, and sinew, which are rarely preserved in European Paleolithic sites. Metz added that the discovery could be related to the migrations of Homo sapiens into areas inhabited by Neanderthals and the subsequent invention of the bow and arrow. Also read: Ancient Temple Found on “Hill of the Pharaohs” The researchers suggest that Neanderthals continued to use massive spears, which required closer contact with their prey than bows and arrows did. Neanderthals disappeared from the fossil record about 40,000 years ago, and it is believed that humans simply subsumed them into our own species through interbreeding. [caption id="attachment_96709" align="aligncenter" width="1465"] evidence of Homo sapiens in Europe

Image credit: .yahoo[/caption] Further analysis of known sites and the discovery of new ones could help better understand the interactions between Neanderthals and Homo sapiens as the latter steadily took over the globe. The Grotte Mandrin rock shelter has yielded important archaeological finds that provide insights into early human behavior. This new research highlights the remarkable technological advancements of early Homo sapiens in Europe and how they used these technologies to their advantage in hunting and survival.

By Prelo Con

Following my passion by reviewing latest tech. Just love it.

New Archaeological Findings Push Back Origin of Archery by 40,000 Years

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