Neanderthals invented their own bone weapon technology by 80,000 years ago

Ancient bone spear tip found in Russia is oldest in Europe and made by Neanderthals

An international team has unearthed the oldest spear tip ever found in Europe and notes that it was fashioned by Neanderthals. In their paper published in the Journal of Archaeological Science, the group describes how and where the spear tip was found, its condition and what they have learned about it through extensive study.

Neanderthals invented their own bone weapon technology by 80,000 years ago

Neanderthals used sleek bone projectiles to hunt big game.

Neanderthals Made the Oldest Bone Spear Tip Found in Europe - Archaeology Magazine

Microscopic photographs of tip of bone spear point MEZMAISKAYA CAVE, RUSSIA—A new study revealed that a Neanderthal artifact found in 2003 in the Mezmaiskaya Cave in the Caucasus Mountains is the oldest bone spear tip ever found in Europe, La Brújula Verde reports. The 3.5-inch object was made between 80,000 and 70,000 years ago and was likely fashioned out of a bison bone. Advanced microscopy, computed tomography, and spectroscopy determined th…

On the Mousterian origin of bone-tipped hunting weapons in Europe: Evidence from Mezmaiskaya Cave, North Caucasus

This paper presents a detailed analysis of a unique pointy bone artefact produced by Neanderthals, which was found in 2003 in a Middle Paleolithic lay…

Europe’s Oldest Bone Spear Tip Unearthed - All That History

Discover the 120,000-year-old Neanderthal bone spear tip, Europe’s oldest, revealing their ingenuity and rewriting history.