60,000-Year-Old Poison Arrows Found in South Africa

Archaeologists have uncovered the oldest direct evidence of poisoned projectiles on 60,000-year-old quartz arrowheads discovered in South Africa. The research, published in the journal Science Advances, identifies traces of plant-based poison on Stone Age artifacts.

This discovery pushes the timeline for poison arrow usage back into the Pleistocene epoch. Hunter-gatherers likely derived the poison from the milky bulb extract of a Boophone disticha plant. The findings demonstrate that cognitively complex hunting strategies were employed much earlier than previously documented.

Historical records show that poisoned weapons have been used globally for millennia, appearing in Greek and Roman documents, Chinese history, and Native American cultures. However, the South African artifacts provide the earliest physical proof of this practice.

The use of poisoned arrows and darts has been a staple of human warfare and hunting across the globe for centuries. Historical documentation provides extensive evidence of this practice in various ancient civilizations.

References to poisoned projectiles appear frequently in classical literature and historical records:

• Greek and Roman historical documents contain recipes for poisoning weapons
• Greek mythology, including Homer's Iliad and Odyssey, references poisoned arrows
• Chinese warriors utilized these tactics throughout various dynasties
• The Gauls and Scythians employed poisoned weaponry
• Some Native American populations used similar methods

Despite this widespread historical knowledge, physical archaeological evidence has remained scarce until now. The lack of preserved organic material from the Pleistocene era has made it difficult to confirm when humans first began applying toxins to their projectiles.

Recent findings in South Africa have changed our understanding of ancient hunting technology. Archaeologists discovered traces of a plant-based poison on several quartz Stone Age arrowheads dating back 60,000 years.

The research team identified specific chemical signatures indicating the presence of toxins. According to the summary of findings, hunter-gatherers probably derived the poison from the milky bulb extract of a Boophone disticha plant. This plant is known to contain toxic compounds that affect the cardiovascular and nervous systems.

The arrowheads were crafted from quartz, a material readily available in the region. The preservation of poison traces on these ancient tools provides unprecedented insight into the cognitive capabilities of early humans. This discovery represents the oldest direct evidence of using poisons on projectiles, establishing that complex chemical knowledge existed much earlier than previously thought.

Throughout human history, various natural sources have been utilized to create effective arrow poisons. These toxins were typically derived from either plants or animals, depending on local availability and hunting needs.

Plant-Based Poisons

Several botanical sources were commonly used:

• Curare: A muscle relaxant that paralyzes the respiratory system, causing death by asphyxiation
• Oleander and milkweeds: Contain cardiac glucosides that affect heart function
• Inee (onaye): Another source of cardiac glucosides
• Ancar tree: In Southeast Asia, sap or juice from seeds is smeared on arrowheads, causing paralysis, convulsions, and cardiac arrest due to strychnine toxins
• Aconite: Several species used as arrow poisons in Siberia and northern Japan

Animal-Derived Poisons

Traditional cultures also utilized toxins from various animals, including:

• Frogs
• Beetles
• Venomous lizards

The Boophone disticha plant used in the South African findings contains toxic alkaloids that can cause severe physiological effects, making it an effective hunting tool for Stone Age populations.

The discovery of poison traces on 60,000-year-old artifacts represents a major breakthrough in understanding early human cognitive development. The ability to identify, harvest, and apply plant toxins to weapons demonstrates sophisticated knowledge of natural pharmacology.

This finding pushes the timeline for chemical warfare and advanced hunting strategies back into the Pleistocene epoch. It suggests that early humans possessed:

• Advanced botanical knowledge
• Understanding of toxicology and dosage
• Complex planning and preparation skills
• Cooperative hunting strategies

The preservation of organic material on stone tools after such an extended period is remarkable. The research published in Science Advances provides the scientific community with concrete evidence that early modern humans in South Africa were utilizing advanced chemical technology for survival.

This discovery aligns with other evidence of complex behavior from the same period, including symbolic art, advanced tool-making, and long-distance trade networks.

The identification of poison traces on 60,000-year-old quartz arrowheads in South Africa fundamentally changes our understanding of early human technological capabilities. This Science Advances publication provides the oldest direct evidence of poisoned projectile use, demonstrating that complex chemical knowledge existed in the Pleistocene era.

The findings confirm that hunter-gatherers utilized Boophone disticha plant extracts as a hunting aid, establishing a timeline for poison arrow usage that extends much further back than previously documented archaeological evidence. This discovery highlights the sophisticated cognitive abilities of our ancestors and their deep understanding of the natural world.