[Renfield]

Sibudu rock shelter, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa and examples of reconstructed arrow points. Photo credit: G.Baker / M.Lombard and J.Pargeter

Other innovations such as engraved ochre and bone points found at Sibudu. Photo credit: C.Henshilwood

Howieson’s Poort stone tools with sharp cutting edges and blunted back edges (left panel) which were fixed (hafted) to make hunting weapons (right panel). Photo credit: M.Lombard

[Renfield]

Paleoarchery ping.

[arderkrag]

Origins of Archery:

Caveman 1: Stab lion with stick, he turn into dinner and coat.
Caveman 2: Yeh, but lion have stabbies, too, also.
Caveman 3: Throw stick!
Caveman 1: Nah, arm get tired.
Caveman 2: Teach other stick to throw stick!
Cavemen 1 & 3: YAY!
Caveman 3: Uhhh...how we do dat?

[RadiationRomeo]

The evolution of the brain is something I would love to get into as soon as I get to retire. I hope my brain doesn’t devolve before I retire.

[darth]

There is other evidence of archery.

I think it was Peter Freuchen, the Danish Arctic explorer, who wrote about this in one of his books.

There was an object in a Danish museum. It was a section of reindeer antler with a neat hole drilled in it about 3/8 inch diameter. The museum sign said, “Religious object of unknown significance dated to 50,000 year ago”.

Some Inuit (Eskimos, in the popular parlance) were visiting from Greenland and immediately recognized the object. “That’s an arrow straightener. You heat the shaft over the lamp and then use it like a wrench to straighten that shaft as it cools. My grandfather used one before we got rifles”.

[Sidebar Moderator]

Could you post a source link? Thanks.