World’s oldest poisoned arrows identified

By Stephen Beech

The world’s oldest poisoned arrows - dating back 60,000 years - have been identified.

The discovery reveals early advanced hunting techniques, say scientists.

They identified traces of poison from the South African plant gifbol on Stone Age arrowheads – the oldest known arrow poison discovered anywhere in the world.

The researchers say the find shows that, 60,000 years ago, people in southern Africa had already developed advanced knowledge of toxic substances and how they could be used for hunting.

Scientists from South Africa and Sweden made the discovery on 60,000-year-old quartz arrowheads from Umhlatuzana Rock Shelter in KwaZulu-Natal.

The research team identified chemical residues of poison from gifbol, a poisonous plant still used by traditional hunters in the region.

Stockholm University Professor Sven Isaksson, an expert in the analysis of organic residues in archaeological materials, conducted the chemical analysis.

He said: “This is the result of a long and close collaboration between researchers in South Africa and Sweden.

"Being able to identify the world's oldest arrow poison together has been a complex undertaking and is incredibly encouraging for continued research.”

Professor Marlize Lombard, of the Palaeo-Research Institute at the University of Johannesburg, South Africa, said: “This is the oldest direct evidence that humans used arrow poison.

"It shows that our ancestors in southern Africa not only invented the bow and arrow much earlier than previously thought, but also understood how to use nature’s chemistry to increase hunting efficiency.”

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The chemical analysis, published in the journal Science Advances, revealed the presence of the alkaloids buphanidrine and epibuphanisine, both found in the gifbol.

The plant - also known as the "poisonous onion"- is renown among local hunters for its highly toxic properties.

Similar substances were also found on 250-year-old arrowheads in Swedish collections, which were collected by travellers during the 18th Century.

The fact that the same plant poison was used in both historical and prehistoric times indicates a long continuity of knowledge and tradition, according to the research team.

Isaksson said: “Finding traces of the same poison on both prehistoric and historical arrowheads was crucial.

“By carefully studying the chemical structure of the substances and thus drawing conclusions about their properties, we were able to determine that these particular substances are stable enough to survive this long in the ground.

“It’s also fascinating that people had such a deep and long-standing understanding of the use of plants.”

Previously, indirect traces of poison have been used to interpret hunting practices.

But the researchers say their findings from Umhlatuzana Rock Shelter constitute the first direct evidence of hunting with poisoned arrows.

They say it shows that early hunters not only had technical skills, but also advanced planning abilities and an understanding of how poisons work over time.

Professor Anders Högberg, of Linnaeus University, added: “Using arrow poison requires planning, patience and an understanding of cause and effect.

"It is a clear sign of advanced thinking in early humans.”