Evidence of Poisoned Arrows Dates Back 54,000 Years.

Recent research into prehistoric hunting strategies is revealing previously unsuspected practices. Archaeologists from Aarhus University (Denmark) and the University of Johannesburg have shed light on the possible use of poisoned arrows as early as 54,000 years ago, upending theories about Paleolithic hunting techniques. The work, published in the Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, is based on morphometric analyses of arrowheads discovered in Europe and southern Africa.

Scientists have identified residues of organic poisons, once used to weaken prey during hunting. This type of practice, long associated with more recent times, shows great ingenuity of the first Homo sapiens. The study offers a new understanding of the survival dynamics of these hunter-gatherers in the face of extreme climatic conditions of the Pleistocene.

Hard-to-detect evidence on arrows

Identifying poisons on prehistoric arrows is particularly complex because of the ephemeral nature of these substances. Poisons, often of plant origin, degrade rapidly with time and environmental conditions. They leave very few traces visible to the naked eye. These organic residues, exposed to the elements for thousands of years, are almost completely erased.

Moreover, traditional methods of archaeological analysis, mainly focused on the study of lithic tools, do not allow the direct detection of these substances. However, recent advances in biomolecular methods have made it possible to detect traces of poison, including cardiac glycosides, on prehistoric arrows in southern Africa, suggesting that the use of poisons for hunting dates back several millennia.

Specifically, in Africa, toxic residues have been identified on bone and stone points dating back 24,000 to 37,000 years. In Europe, although direct evidence remains rarer, indirect clues reveal similar practices.

The use of bows and arrows in Europe dates back about 14,700 years, according to finds at sites such as Stellmoor in Germany. The arrows found at Stellmoor mark a crucial step in the evolution of hunting techniques in the Upper Paleolithic. Before this period, hunters primarily used spears and javelins.

These weapons required greater proximity to the prey. The introduction of the bow allowed hunters to greatly improve their range and accuracy. They thus reduced the risks associated with close-range hunting. They offered hunters greater flexibility in tracking fast or dangerous prey. Archaeologists consider this transition to be a key step in the improvement of survival strategies and the sophistication of projectile weapons.

European archery and the first traces of the use of poison

However, recent discoveries in the Mandrin Cave in France are upending this timeline. The use of arrows, and potentially poisoned arrows, is thought to date back nearly 54,000 years. This would push back the origin of this technology in Europe by tens of thousands of years. A study of these arrowheads revealed that 26% of them were designed for shallow penetration, which would be consistent with the use of poison.

Schematic representations of different Paleolithic weapons. © Marlize Lombard

The researchers used the method of Tip Cross-Sectional Area (TCSA) to analyze the geometry of these points and determine their function. Poisoned arrows do not require deep penetration. In fact, it is enough for the point to slightly cut the skin for the poison to enter the prey's bloodstream. Thus, a simple scratch could be enough to paralyze or kill the animal.

This method made it possible to clearly distinguish between the different points used. On one side, poisoned arrows and on the other, those intended for use without poison. This is how the researchers were able to demonstrate that European hunters of the Upper Paleolithic used much more sophisticated technologies than previously thought,

Poison as a sophisticated hunting strategy

The use of poisoned arrows by Paleolithic hunters demonstrates a deep mastery of biology and the ecosystem in which they evolved. This complex technique goes beyond the simple manufacture of sharp tools. It requires precise knowledge of the toxic plants present in their environment. Hunters had to know which plants were potentially deadly. But also how to extract the active ingredients effectively.

In Europe, recent studies have identified 58 plants that may have been used to make poisons. Among these plants, monkshood and foxglove stand out for their particularly lethal properties. Monkshood contains neurotoxic alkaloids, including aconitine. They cause rapid paralysis of the nervous system. Foxglove, for its part, is rich in cardiac glycosides and can cause violent cardiac arrest, even in small quantities.

These plants had to be handled with care to ensure their effectiveness while minimizing the risks to the hunter. Paleolithic hunters must have developed precise techniques for preparing these toxins. They had to be able to concentrate them and apply them to the tips of their arrows, while controlling the doses to ensure maximum effectiveness. This type of know-how is well documented in other parts of the world. The use of poison in hunting was a widespread practice in several ancient cultures.

Poisoned Arrows: A Universal Strategy?

The use of poisoned arrows seems to transcend regions and eras. It marks a hunting strategy shared by many human groups throughout time. In Egypt, black marks found on arrowheads dating back to 2000 BCE revealed the use of toxic substances. The authors of the study suggest that this technique may have very ancient roots in different cultures. In Africa, San hunters used plant poisons, such as castor oil or certain species of cactus. In this way, they were supposed to gradually weaken their prey.

Arrowheads found in Europe, and more particularly in the Ahrensburg culture assemblages in Germany, confirm the use of small arrowheads. They are indeed typically associated with the use of poison. These points, often less than 20 mm² in cross-sectional area, were small enough to correspond to poisoned arrows. A technique that is also found in the finds made at Eskebjerg, in Denmark. More than half of the points analyzed presented similar characteristics.

Source: Felix Riede, Marlize Lombard, “Hunting with poisoned arrows during the Terminal Pleistocene in Northern Europe? A tip cross-sectional area assessment and list of potential arrow poison ingredients”, Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, Volume 59, November 2024, 104757