In Search of the First Projectile Point (Part 2)

Yesterday I introduced you to a study done on bone points found in the Middle Stone Age site of Sibudu Cave, South Africa. Today, I am going to talk about the stone artifacts recovered from the same site that also support the idea of complex projectile weaponry developing in Africa before the start of the Upper Palaeolithic period.

 Quartz segments and backed pieces from Sibudu Cave

 

A study by Marlize Lombard and Laurel Phillipson focused on doing a detailed study of the macro-fracture patters on the backed lithics found in Sibudu Cave in the same context as the bone points to look for evidence of hafting and impact fractures which might indicate their use as complex projectile weapon tips. This analysis included a rigorous microscopic inspection of the potential points and their fracture patters as well as experimental studies which attempted to determine whether the points would have been effective when hafted on an arrow. They also looked for secondary indications bow and arrow technology in the archaeological record such as well-developed hafting technologies, a broad spectrum diet which includes small fast-moving prey, bow drills, climatic changes, and other contextual evidence. By combining these multiple lines of evidence, the researchers concluded that it is highly likely that bow and arrow technology was in use by 64,000 cal BP.

Microscopic close-ups of of a quartz segment from Sibudu Cave. Researchers analyzed the fracture patterns as potential trace evidence for the piece having been hafted as a transverse arrowhead.

References:

Lombard, M. and L. Phillipson. 2010. “Indications of bow and stone-tipped arrow use   
              64,000years ago in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.” Antiquity 84: 635-648.