80,000-Year-Old Arrowheads Found in Uzbekistan Rewrite the History of Archery
Arrow heads at Obi-Rakhmat (Uzbekistan) 80K years ago?
A PLOS ONE study reports triangular micropoints from Obi-Rakhmat rock shelter in Uzbekistan, dating to around 80,000 years ago. Traceological analysis shows these tiny blades were too narrow for anything but arrow-like shafts, making them the earliest known arrowheads. They resemble armatures made by modern humans in France 25,000 years later, suggesting Neanderthals may have pioneered light projectile technology.
According to the fundamental principles of hunting weapon design these micropoints are too narrow for having been fitted to anything other than arrow-like shafts.
- dr_dshiv
Short story: stones were used to make “arrow-heads” (blades on sticks too small for spears) 25k years earlier than expected.
- ahazred8ta
The paper does not appear to distinguish between 'darts' used with atlatl throwing sticks, and arrows used with bows. Darts were used before bows.
(projectile point design is difficult; you can't haft archaic and yeet it too)
- optimalsolver
Civil war between Atlanteans.