Reproductions of arrows with flint heads like those found at Grotte Mandrin in France
Ludovic Slimak
Bows and arrows were first used in Europe earlier than previously believed. A recent excavation at the Grotte Mandrin rock shelter in southern France has uncovered more than 100 arrowheads dating back 54,000 years ago, during a time when modern humans were venturing into Neanderthal territory.
Laure Metz of Aix-Marseille University in France, one of the researchers involved in the excavation, expressed their surprise at the significant number of arrowheads found.
The Grotte Mandrin rock shelter was first occupied by Neanderthals over 80,000 years ago, followed by the arrival of modern humans around 45,000 years ago. However, last year, the excavation team discovered evidence of a small group of modern humans using the shelter as a hunting camp for about 40 years around 54,000 years ago. This conclusion was supported by the identification of a baby tooth that clearly did not belong to a Neanderthal.
Further excavation uncovered more than a thousand small stone points, approximately 1 or 2 centimeters long, in the layers of earth dating from the same period. Approximately 100 of these points were identified as broken or complete arrowheads, displaying signs of impact damage similar to newly made stone points used as arrowheads. While the status of the others as arrowheads remains uncertain, Marlize Lombard of the University of Johannesburg in South Africa agrees that the stone points are most likely used for arrowheads.
Many of the arrowheads found at Grotte Mandrin are broken, indicating that they may have been used and subsequently replaced by the hunters. Some broken arrowheads were discovered lodged inside butchered meat, suggesting that they had broken off during hunting and were brought back to camp. Signs of charring on these arrowheads indicate exposure to fire.
Prior to this discovery, the earliest evidence of bows and arrows in Europe came from Stellmoor, Germany, dating back around 10,000 years ago. However, it was widely believed that modern humans who inhabited Europe around 45,000 years ago had knowledge of bows and arrows. The challenge lies in differentiating between arrowheads and spearheads when utilizing larger stone points, as they appear similar. Metz speculates that evidence of arrowheads may have been overlooked in the past because archaeologists used to discard smaller bits of stone.
The development of bows and arrows dates back at least 70,000 years ago in Africa. Stone and bone arrowheads have been found in southern African sites, suggesting that the technology was spread by modern humans as they migrated out of Africa.
Interestingly, Neanderthals, despite possibly observing bows and arrows being used by modern humans, never adopted this technology themselves. They continued to rely on large stone-tipped spears that were either thrust or thrown by hand, requiring close contact with prey.
Although there is no evidence of the arrows being used in conflict, Metz believes that warfare likely existed among prehistoric human societies. She speculates that this small group of modern humans, despite having the advantage of bows and arrows, may have been wiped out by Neanderthals. However, the exact fate of this group remains unknown.
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