the international research team from the German Institute for the history of mankind max Planck (MPI-SHH), Griffith University in Australia and the Department of archaeology of the government of Sri Lanka provided evidence of the early use of bows and arrows outside of Africa.
a study published in the journal Science Advances, and briefly about it it is reported on the website of the max Planck Institute. Scientists have studied the artifacts age of 45-48 thousand years, found in the cave of FA-Hien Lena. It is located in the tropical forests of Sri Lanka.
Among the discovered guns analysis revealed bone arrowheads. Still the age of the oldest of the arrows was found in South-East Asia, accounted for approximately 32 thousand years. In addition, this weapon is much more ancient than that which was found in Europe. Only in Africa was found a more ancient arrows. The traces preserved on the lugs indicate that they were probably used for hunting.
“Scratches on the tips indicate damage from a strong impact – this is what is usually observed when hunting with bow and arrows in animals,” says lead author Michelle Langley from Griffith University.
Also in the cave was discovered bone tools with single and double hooks. Detailed microscopic analysis has helped to prove that these tools were used for weaving fishing nets, and probably clothing. This was indicated by microscopic fibers, which have been considered on the hooks with the help of modern electron microscope.
According to Langley, was also found clear evidence of production of color pearls prehistoric people. Beads stained with ochre. Some artifacts indicate that people at that time were known technology of production of artificial pearls, which was extracted with river mollusks.
the age of the jewelry is about 45 thousand years. They established the production can say that pearls were made “for sale” – perhaps it is exchanged for other goods. This means that a complex social network already 45 thousand years ago could exist in the tropics contemporary Sri Lanka.
“Found evidence to show that the invention of bows and arrows, clothing, and symbolic objects occurred at different times and in different regions, including the tropical forests of Asia, says co-author Michael Petraglia of MPI-SHH. – Clothes could be used not only for protection from the cold but also for protection against tropical mosquitoes, and bows and arrows helped to hunt not only large animals, but small, tree-dwelling primates and rodents”.
