"Neanderthals probably hand threw spears over short distances, but perhaps they simply never got around to inventing means of propelling spears or other projectiles long distances," said Churchill. "Or perhaps their...short, squat body build with short and massive limbs was not conducive to using throwing-based hunting technology," he added. Neanderthals, however, likely came up with an important technological innovation that changed weapon-making for thousands of years to come. Archaeologist Eric Boeda of University of Paris X, Nanterre, and his team recently discovered bitumen, a tar-like substance, on sharpened stone points associated with Neanderthals who lived in Syria 70,000 years ago. Bitumen served as an adhesive, allowing the Neanderthals to fasten points to wooden handles in a process known as hafting. The findings, published in the latest issue of Antiquity, push known bitumen usage back by 30,000 years. By the time modern humans migrated to Europe from Africa 40,000 years ago, bows and arrows were likely their weapons of choice, said John Shea, associate professor of anthropology at Stony Brook University. He indicated they're still popular with many Africans today. "Nobody in Africa uses spear-throwers, and they use spears mainly for warfare and hunting the really big game, such as elephants, rhinos and hippos," Shea explained. "Instead," he added, "nearly everybody uses bows and arrows for routine hunting, fishing and warfare too." Related Links: |
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