Recent discoveries at the Mezmaiskaya cave site in the North Caucasus have revealed that Neandertals were potentially crafting projectile weapons from animal bones much earlier than previously believed. A bone fragment dated to around 80,000 years ago showcased evidence of sharpening and residue from bitumen, a form of tar that likely indicates it was affixed to a shaft to create a spear or similar weapon. This discovery, detailed by archaeologist Liubov Golovanova and colleagues in the Journal of Archaeological Science, positions this artifact as the oldest known Neandertal-made bone-tipped projectile. Previously, archaeological evidence suggested such advanced weaponry from this species emerged significantly later, making this finding a pivotal update in the timeline of prehistoric human technology.
Historically, it was established that Neandertals crafted wooden spears as early as 300,000 years ago. However, until now, there has been a lack of concrete evidence for the construction of bone-tipped weapons before 40,000 years ago. The newfound artifact challenges previous assumptions by suggesting that the Neandertals possessed the cognitive and technical skills to invent bone projectiles independently—a significant leap in our understanding of Neandertal capabilities. The implications extend beyond just weapon culture, influencing our broader understanding of their behavioral sophistication.
Previous beliefs posited that Neandertals might have acquired insights leading to such tool-making from interactions with Homo sapiens migrating from Africa. This inference came from archaeological findings of the earliest known bone-tipped weapons associated with modern humans, identified in regions like Morocco and South Africa, dating back to around 90,000 and 62,000 years ago. However, the new evidence from Mezmaiskaya indicates that Neandertals were innovating their tools much earlier and potentially without influence from Homo sapiens, which reshapes the narrative of technological development among prehistoric humans.
The specifics of the Neandertal bone point reveal that it is similar in size and configuration to other projectile weapons attributed to Homo sapiens, solidifying the claim that these dolichocephalic hominins created this technology independently. Although H. sapiens inhabited the Caucasus around 34,000 years ago, their bone-tipped technological advancements appeared approximately 46,000 years after the creation of the Neandertal bone tip. This temporal gap suggests that Neandertals were innovators of their own making, hence providing an opportunity to reassess their cognitive capabilities and social practices, which have historically been underestimated.
Archaeologists note the distinct production methods employed by Neandertals, evident from a comparison of this bone artifact with pointed antlers and bones utilized by Homo sapiens for projectile weapons. Notably, the differences lie in the absence of polishing or grinding on the Neandertal-made point, indicative of a different approach to tool-making. This uniqueness suggests that Neandertals forged their technology based on their understanding, methodologies, and available materials rather than direct adaptation from contemporaneous modern humans.
Despite the significance of this discovery, some researchers remain skeptical about the functionality of the uncovered artifact. For example, archaeologist Malvina Baumann questions its durability and suitability as a weapon due to its lightweight and fragile characteristics. She advocates for a more comparative analysis with other known bone tools to fully clarify the role and effectiveness of this Neandertal weaponry. This highlights a gap in current understanding, encouraging continued research into the technological advancements of Neandertals and their place in the broader narrative of human evolution and ingenuity.
