7,000-Year-Old Weapon Shows “Unprecedented Degree” of Precision and Technical Mastery

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Posted on 12/06/2024 7:38:32 AM PST by Red Badger

A study team led by researchers from the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) says that a 7,000-year-old weapon kit consisting of two bowstrings believed to be the oldest ever found in Europe and a set of three wood arrows discovered in the Cave of Los Murciélagos in Albuñol, Granada, reveals an “unprecedented degree of precision and technical mastery” in their construction.

When describing the complexity of the bowstrings, which were woven together from the tendons of three different animal species, Raquel Piqué, a researcher in the Department of Prehistory of the UAB and coordinator of the study, said that “this degree of precision and technical mastery, where every detail counts, attests to the exceptional knowledge of these Neolithic artisans.”

Fragments of sinew bowstrings from the Cave of Los Murciélagos in Albuñol, the oldest bowstrings found so far in Europe. © MUTERMUR Project. Credit: © MUTERMUR Project.

The research is also the first to confirm the decades-old theory regarding reed woods’ use in the construction of prehistoric Europe’s arrows.

7,000-Year-Old Weapon Kit Surprisingly Well-Preserved In the study outlining their discovery, the team notes that the organic arrows and bowstrings were exceptionally well preserved because they had dried out. This desiccated condition allowed the researchers to study their 7,000-year-old weapon kit in unprecedented detail.

First, the team found that the ancient bowstrings were made from animal tendons. When examined more closely, the team found that they were made using braided strands of tendons from three distinct animal species. Testing revealed that the tendons belonged to Capra, a genus that includes several species of goats and ibex; Sus, a genus to which wild boar and pigs belong; and a species of roe deer.

“Not only were we able to confirm the use of animal tendons to make them, but we also identified the genus or species of animal from which they came,” explained Ingrid Bertin, researcher at the UAB and first author of the published article.

Thanks to the exceptionally well-preserved bowstrings, the team could also tell that the braiding method allowed the ancient manufacturer to extend the length of the overall string. Piqué says this technique allowed for the precision manufacture of strong and flexible ropes “to meet the needs of experienced archers.”

“The identification of these bowstrings marks a crucial step in the study of Neolithic weaponry,” Bertin adds.

Arrows Show Advanced Consideration for Performance and Aesthetics Along with confirming the reed wood arrow hypothesis, the arrows found within the 7,000-year-old weapon kit reveal the designer’s technical sophistication as well as an unexpected concern for the aesthetic.

For example, the arrows were made from a measured combination of willow wood, olive wood, and reed wood. Bertin says this advanced combination of unique materials “offers a hard and dense front section, complemented by a light back, which significantly improves the ballistic properties of the arrows, whose tips are made of wood without stone or bone projectiles.” The arrows were also tied with sinew fibers.

Three Neolithic arrows recovered from the Cave of Los Murciélagos in Albuñol: reed and wood (above) and details of tied sinew fibers, feathers, and birch bark pitch (below). © MUTERMUR Project. Credit: © MUTERMUR Project.

According to the study authors, the arrows were so well preserved that they still had their feathers attached, indicating a possible desire for function and style. The team also found that the arrows were covered in birch bark pitch. Obtained by a controlled “heat treatment” of the bark from a birch tree, the research team believes this material could have been added for its protective properties. They also suspect it could have been used for its decorative properties, “which adds an aesthetic and functional dimension to the equipment.”

Opening New Ways for the Study of Ancient Weaponry

Having successfully characterized the materials and advanced manufacturing techniques revealed by their 7,000-year-old weapon kit, the researchers hope to explore the exact purpose of the technical and aesthetically designed arrows. Bertin said, “Future experiments may clarify whether these arrows could have been used for hunting or close-range combat or whether they could have been non-lethal arrows.”

In the study’s conclusion, the authors say these sophisticated ancient weapons may reveal the technical prowess of the individuals who made them and offer a peek into the minds of the people who used them. The researchers also believe their methods can provide a proven approach to studying weapons technology from this time and region.

“The discoveries contribute to enrich the understanding of the artisan practices and daily life of prehistoric societies and open ways for the study of ancient weaponry, by revealing methods and materials that can be investigated at other European Neolithic archaeological sites,” said Raquel Piqué. “In addition, they provide a better understanding of the symbolic sphere linked to these grave goods from a funerary context, such as is the Cave of Los Murciélagos.”

The study “Iberian Neolithic societies had a deep knowledge of archery techniques and materials” was published in Scientific Reports.

Christopher Plain is a Science Fiction and Fantasy novelist and Head Science Writer at The Debrief. Follow and connect with him on X, learn about his books at plainfiction.com, or email him directly at christopher@thedebrief.org.

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1 posted on 12/06/2024 7:38:32 AM PST by Red Badger

To: SunkenCiv

2 posted on 12/06/2024 7:38:53 AM PST by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegals are put up in 5 Star hotels....................)

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