Earliest stone-tipped projectiles from the Ethiopian rift date to >279,000 years ago.
Projectile weapons (i.e. those delivered from a distance) enhanced prehistoric hunting efficiency by enabling higher impact delivery and hunting of a broader range of animals while reducing confrontations with dangerous prey species. Projectiles therefore provided a significant advantage over thrusting spears. Composite projectile technologies are considered indicative of complex behavior and pivotal to the successful spread of Homo sapiens. Direct evidence for such projectiles is thus far unknown from >80,000 years ago. Data from velocity-dependent microfracture features, diagnostic damage patterns, and artifact shape reported here indicate that pointed stone artifacts from Ethiopia were used as projectile weapons (in the form of hafted javelin tips) as early as >279,000 years ago. In combination with the existing archaeological, fossil and genetic evidence, these data isolate eastern Africa as a source of modern cultures and biology.
Department of Archaeology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
Yonatan
Y
Sahle
W Karl
WK
Hutchings
David R
DR
Braun
Judith C
JC
Sealy
Leah E
LE
Morgan
Agazi
A
Negash
Balemwal
B
Atnafu
D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D005002:Ethiopia; D005580:Fossils; D015186:Hominidae; D011235:Predatory Behavior; D053001:Tool Use Behavior; D054041:Weapons