Archery is a weapon whose effectiveness has been replaced by that of the pistol and rifle, many centuries ago. Yet the bow and arrow may deserve a place fundamental in the history of our species, according to a new study. This weapon was fundamental for the conquest of the planet by Homo Sapiens, helping modern men to emerge from their African land tens of millions of years ago.
The first archers were able to kill their prey at a considerable distance, giving their food plans a protein intake without putting yourself in danger. Bow and arrow technology is ancient, with some of the oldest arrowheads found in caves in South Africa and dated to about 64,000 years ago. Outside of Africa, the first evidence of this weapon dates back to 48,000 years ago, found in a cave in Sri Lanka only two years ago.
For early humans, archery was critical to survival
However, according to the researchers, the date should be moved a few years back, to about 54,000 years ago after scientists revealed they discovered evidence that modern humans they colonized the Grotte Mandrin cave in the Rhone Valley. The exhibits included a baby tooth and a series of tiny pointed stone tools that look a lot like arrowheads. The team had yet to confirm if they were arrowheads, but they confirmed that technology would have given modern humans a key advantage over Neanderthals which then occupied Europe.
Experts point out that this weapon was a technology at different times and in different parts of the world, highlighting the importance in the development of our species. The crucial thing in making an arch is that we really need to know the materials. We have to choose a tree species that has the right flexibility because the inside of an arch has to withstand considerable compression while the outside has to resist stretching. We also need experienced technicians to make the string, arrowheads and arrow shaft. The whole technology requires considerable experience. Every tool discovered by this study were highly standardized.
The Neanderthals were able to build every stone tool, but each had its own uniqueness. On the contrary, those made by modern men were light, compact and uniform. The settlement of Grotte Mandrin places the date of the first appearance of modern humans in Western Europe some 12,000 years earlier compared to previous estimates. Despite their technical skills, these settlers did not survive. After a period of 40 years, the signs of the presence of modern man on the Rhone disappear, for then 2,000 years later the site was occupied by Neanderthals. The study is also possible that climate change has impacted the Mandrin Caves group.
There are only a few tree species whose wood is flexible enough and strong enough to be able to make bows. So if there has been a change in the climate, those trees may have become rarer or even extinct completely, and the group may have found that it couldn’t replace their bows and arrows. Their dependence on them would leave them exposed and fragile. Sites in Romania and the Czech Republic have also been found to contain remains of our species from 40,000 to 50,000 years ago. However, the bone analyzes have produced genetic profiles that are unmatched among modern Europeans.
Photo on TheDigitalWay and Pixabay
