Humans were hunting animals with deadly wooden spears 300,000 years ago: study

A new study hasfound that humans started making deadly and complex hunting wood weapons 300,000 years ago.

Earlier, archaeologists had suspected that humans used wooden tools till the time they were also hunting with stone ones. However, now because of the more fragile nature of wood, major evidence has rotted away.

ArcheologistDirk Leder, who is from the Lower Saxony State Office for Cultural Heritage, along with colleagues used 3D microscopy and micro-CT scanners to examine 187 wooden artefacts which were discovered from Schoningen in Germany.

"Wood was a crucial raw material for human evolution, but it is only in Schöningen that it has survived from thePaleolithicperiod in such great quality,"University of Gottingen archaeologist Thomas Terberger said while speaking to Science Alert.

In the middle of these multiple wooden artefacts, the largest one found belonged to thePleistocene epoch (2.58 million to 11,700 years ago).

The archaeologists found at least seven throwing sticks, 10 spears, and 35 domestic tools.

The tools, which included spruce, pine, and larch, were all carved from wood and they were both hard and flexible.

In the tools, there was clear proof of a splitting technique, along with signs of abrasion, scraping and carving.

"The way the wooden tools were so expertly manufactured was a revelation to us,"explained Annemieke Milks, University of Reading palaeolithic archaeologist.

Archaeologists find evidence of butchered animals, recycling

The archaeologistsalso discovered evidence of nearly 25 butchered animals, which were mainly horses, from the same site at Schoningen.

Speaking to The New York Times,Terbergersaid, "It turned out that these pre-Homo sapienshad fashioned tools and weapons to hunt big game. Not only did they communicate together to topple prey, but they were sophisticated enough to organise the butchering and roasting."

The researchers further argued that such powerful hunting abilities appear much older than the wood artefacts discovered in Schöningen.

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"Likewise, (hunting) would have ensured sustainable populations even in less favourable parts of Europe during the Pleistocene and contributed to human range expansion across the globe," wrote Leder and team, in their paper.

The researchers also discovered evidence of recycling. It was found that the tools, which were blunted or broken, appeared to be reworked for new purposes.

"The study provides unique insights into Pleistocene woodworking techniques," the researcherssaid.

"Schöningen's wooden hunting weapons exemplify the interplay of technological complexity, human behaviour, and human evolution," it added.

(With inputs from agencies)