Chemical traces hint at poisoned hunting weapons in Arabia 125,000 years ago
A new study has found people living in Arabia 125,000 years ago used complex technologies, including composite hunting weapons, plant-fiber processing and possibly poison-assisted hunting, while making use of a freshwater lake rich in resources.
Archaeologists have uncovered what may be the oldest known poisoned weapons at a 125,000-year-old site in southern Saudi Arabia. The stone tools, likely used for hunting large animals, contained traces of a poisonous tree commonly used for its toxins. Chris Clarkson, an archaeologist from the Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology, described the findings as potentially the oldest evidence for poisoned hunting weapons, though the preparation and effectiveness of the poison remain unclear.
The site, known as Uruq Aljelibah, was once a freshwater lake that supported a diverse range of flora and fauna, including now-extinct species like hippopotamuses and buffalo. The researchers found over 5,500 stone artifacts at the site, along with preserved plant materials, suggesting that the lakeshore was a crucial hub for hunting and processing game.
The discovery challenges previous assumptions about the technological complexity of early human populations, highlighting their ability to create intricate tools and weapons using organic materials.
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