The bowstrings are made from the tendons of goats, boars, and roe deer that were dried and twisted together 7,000 years ago.
Bertin, I., Martín-Seijo, M., Martínez-Sevilla, F. et al.These bowstrings are 7,000 years old and made from dried animal tendons.
A recent study from the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) has shed new light on the techniques and materials used for archery during the Neolithic period.
Members of the research team analyzed a variety of artifacts from the Cueva de Los Murciélagos in Albuñol near Granada. Among the discoveries were 7,000-year-old bowstrings made of animal tendons that have now been identified as the oldest ever found in Europe.
The results of the study were published in the journal Scientific Reports, and experts are stunned by the unprecedented degree of precision and technical mastery possessed by Neolithic craftspeople.
Analysis Of 7,000-Year-Old Bowstrings Reveals Remarkable Neolithic Craftsmanship
This recent study was led by a team from UAB. Per a translated statement from the university, the organic remains in the Cueva de Los Murciélagos in Albuñol were exceptionally well preserved, making them perfect for this sort of multidisciplinary analysis.
Much of what the team examined was Neolithic archery equipment, which has now been thoroughly identified and documented. Among the discoveries were various arrows preserved with their original feathers, fibrous remains, and two bowstrings made of animal tendons. The artifacts are about 7,000 years old, making the bowstrings the oldest ever found in Europe.
Bertin, I., Martín-Seijo, M., Martínez-Sevilla, F. et al.A close-up view of the tendons used in the bowstrings.
“The identification of these bowstrings marks a crucial step in the study of Neolithic weaponry. Not only have we been able to confirm the use of animal tendons to make them, but we have also been able to identify the genus or species of animal from which they come,” said UAB researcher Ingrid Bertin.
Bertin explained that analysis revealed tendons from goats, boars, and roe deer were used to craft the bowstrings, which were twisted together until they were a sufficient length.
“With this technique, strong and flexible strings could be made to meet the needs of experienced archers. This degree of precision and technical mastery, where every detail counts, attests to the exceptional knowledge of these Neolithic craftsmen,” added fellow UAB researcher Raquel Piqué.
While the bowstrings were a large focus of the study, they were far from the only fascinating discovery made during the analysis.
Other Discoveries Provide A New Perspective On Southwestern Europe’s Neolithic Groups
Analysis of the arrow shafts further revealed, for the first time, the use of olive wood and reed. It had long been theorized that reeds were used for arrow making in prehistoric Europe, but until now this had yet to be confirmed.
Even more surprisingly, though, the analysis found that Neolithic groups had combined the reed with olive wood and willow, which experts described as a particularly interesting choice of materials.
Bertin, I., Martín-Seijo, M., Martínez-Sevilla, F. et al.The Neolithic arrow shafts were made from olive wood, reed, and willow — a unique combination.
“This integration offers a hard and dense front section, complemented by a light rear section, which significantly improves the ballistic properties of the arrows, whose tips are made of wood without stone or bone projectiles,” Bertin said. “Future experiments will be able to clarify whether these arrows could have been used for hunting or close-range combat, or whether they could have been non-lethal arrows.”
The arrow shafts, once they were completed, were then coated with birch pitch, a material obtained by controlled heating of birch bark. It served as a protective layer — and had an aesthetic benefit, as well.
Overall, these findings demonstrate a much more sophisticated understanding of craftsmanship during the Neolithic period than previously thought. This new perspective shows that our ancient ancestors were more advanced than typically portrayed.
“The findings contribute to enriching the understanding of the craft practices and daily life of prehistoric societies and open avenues for the study of ancient weapons, by revealing methods and materials that can be investigated in other European Neolithic archaeological sites,” Piqué added.
“In addition, they provide a better understanding of the symbolic sphere linked to these grave goods from a funerary context, such as that of La Cueva de Los Murciélagos.”
After reading about the analysis of Europe’s oldest bowstrings, go inside the discovery of the world’s oldest cave paintings. Then, learn about the oldest human viruses ever found in ancient remains.
