Recent excavations in a rock shelter called Grotte Mandrin in southern France have uncovered over 100 arrowheads, providing evidence that bows and arrows were used in Europe much earlier than previously believed. The rock shelter was first used by Neanderthals over 80,000 years ago and later by modern humans around 45,000 years ago. However, analysis of the layers of earth revealed that around 54,000 years ago, a small group of modern humans used Grotte Mandrin as a hunting camp. The discovery of a baby tooth that is not Neanderthal supported this finding.
During the excavations, over a thousand small stone points were found, with around 100 identified as broken or complete arrowheads. The arrowheads exhibited signs of impact damage similar to those seen in newly made stone points used as arrowheads. Marlize Lombard at the University of Johannesburg suggests that the tips could only have been used to tip arrows.
These arrowheads were mainly found broken, with some lodged inside animals that were brought back to the camp for butchering. Many of them showed signs of charring from fires. Furthermore, arrow shafts were also discovered indicating that hunters would bring back broken arrows and replace the arrowheads, discarding the damaged ones. Previously, the earliest evidence of bows and arrows in Europe was from Stellmoor, Germany, dating back around 10,000 years. However, it was believed that modern humans who displaced Neanderthals had bows and arrows around 45,000 years ago.
Bows and arrows were first developed in Africa at least 70,000 years ago. The technology was likely spread by modern humans as they moved out of Africa. Interestingly, despite witnessing the use of bows and arrows, Neanderthals never adopted this technology, and continued to use large stone-tipped spears for hunting.
The study did not find any evidence of the arrows being used in conflicts. However, the researcher believes that warfare likely existed in prehistoric times, even though there is no concrete evidence for it. The fate of the small group of modern humans who used Grotte Mandrin as a hunting camp remains unknown.
It is noteworthy that this discovery pushes back the timeline for the use of bows and arrows in Europe, shedding light on the technological advancements of early modern humans and their interactions with Neanderthals.
Insights
- The discovery of over 100 arrowheads in Grotte Mandrin in southern France suggests that bows and arrows were used in Europe much earlier than previously thought.
- The arrowheads exhibited signs of impact damage similar to newly made stone points used as arrowheads, indicating their use as arrow tips.
- Neanderthals, despite witnessing the use of bows and arrows, did not adopt this technology and continued to use stone-tipped spears for hunting.
- This discovery highlights the technological advancements of early modern humans and their interactions with Neanderthals in Europe.
