The discovery, published in the journal Science Advances, represents the oldest direct evidence of arrow poison use in human history. Researchers from South Africa and Sweden collaborated to analyze chemical residues on the prehistoric arrowheads, identifying alkaloids buphanidrine and epibuphanisine—toxic substances found exclusively in Boophone disticha, known locally as gifbol or "poisonous onion." This plant remains in use by traditional hunters in the region today, suggesting an unbroken chain of knowledge spanning tens of millennia.
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Umhlatuzana Rock Shelter. (Isaksson et al. /Science Advances)
A Toxic Tradition Spanning Millennia
Professor Sven Isaksson at Stockholm University's Archaeological Research Laboratory, who conducted the chemical analyses, explained the significance of the find. "This is the result of a long and close collaboration between researchers in South Africa and Sweden," Isaksson stated. "Being able to identify the world's oldest arrow poison together has been a complex undertaking and is incredibly encouraging for continued research."
What makes the discovery particularly remarkable is the parallel evidence found on 250-year-old arrowheads in Swedish museum collections. These historical specimens, gathered by 18th-century travelers, contained the identical plant toxins—proving that the same hunting techniques persisted across an extraordinary timespan. The chemical stability of these particular alkaloids allowed them to survive in the ground for 60,000 years, making detection possible through modern forensic methods.
Professor Marlize Lombard from the Palaeo-Research Institute at the University of Johannesburg emphasized the technological leap this represents:
"This is the oldest direct evidence that humans used arrow poison," she noted. "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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Boophone disticha (gifbol), the toxic plant used for 60,000 years. A) B. disticha bulb and fan-like leaves (photo credit: A. Motala, CC BY-SA 4.0, (B) flowerhead (photo credit: G. Bowers-Winters, CC BY-NC 4.0 and (C) seeding structure (photo credit: R. Taylor, CC BY-NC 4.0. (Isaksson et al. /Science Advances)
Evidence of Advanced Planning and Abstract Thought
The use of poisoned arrows requires more than simple tool-making skills—it demands sophisticated cognitive abilities that challenge previous assumptions about early human intelligence. Professor Anders Högberg at Linnaeus University's Department of Cultural Sciences highlighted this aspect:
"Using arrow poison requires planning, patience and an understanding of cause and effect. It is a clear sign of advanced thinking in early humans."
Unlike modern poisons that kill instantly, the gifbol toxins work gradually, requiring hunters to track wounded prey over extended periods. This meant Stone Age hunters needed to comprehend delayed causation—shooting an animal, watching it flee apparently unharmed, then following it until the poison took effect hours later. Such behavior demonstrates abstract thinking, future planning, and the ability to transmit complex knowledge across generations.
The Umhlatuzana Rock Shelter site has yielded numerous artifacts from southern Africa's Middle Stone Age, but these poisoned arrowheads represent the first direct chemical evidence of such practices. Previous interpretations relied on indirect evidence—unusual wear patterns on tools, residue traces, or ethnographic comparisons with modern hunter-gatherers. This new analysis provides irrefutable proof that sophisticated toxicology knowledge existed in prehistoric times.
Rewriting the Timeline of Human Innovation
The findings push back the timeline for complex hunting technology by thousands of years. While previous archaeological evidence suggested bow-and-arrow technology emerged around 74,000 years ago in Ethiopia, the poisoned arrows from Umhlatuzana indicate that early humans had already mastered both weaponry and toxicology by 60,000 years ago. This suggests that the cognitive revolution enabling modern human behavior occurred earlier than many scientists believed.
The research team's methodology combined traditional archaeology with cutting-edge forensic chemistry. By carefully studying the molecular structure of the residues and comparing them with both modern plant samples and historical artifacts, they could definitively identify the poison source and confirm its extraordinary preservation. "Finding traces of the same poison on both prehistoric and historical arrowheads was crucial," Professor Isaksson explained. "It's also fascinating that people had such a deep and long-standing understanding of the use of plants."
This discovery adds to growing evidence that early African populations were far more technologically sophisticated than previously recognized. From the development of stone tool technologies to the creation of symbolic art and now chemical weapons, southern Africa emerges as a crucible of human innovation during the Stone Age.
Both sides of one of the arrowheads analyzed. The left-hand image shows the organic remains in which the arrowhead residues were identified. Source: Marlize Lombard/Stockholm University
Both sides of one of the arrowheads analyzed. The left-hand image shows the organic remains in which the arrowhead residues were identified. Source: Marlize Lombard/
By Gary Manners
References
Högberg, A. et al. 2026. Direct Evidence for Poison Use on Microlithic Arrowheads in Southern Africa at 60,000 years ago. Science Advances. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adz3281
Isaksson, S. et al. 2026. World's Oldest Arrow Poison – 60,000-year-old Traces Reveal Early Advanced Hunting Techniques. Stockholm University. Available at: https://www.su.se/english/news/articles/2026-01-08-worlds-oldest-arrow-poison---60000-year-old-traces-reveal-early-advanced-hunting-techniques
Lombard, M. 2026. Prehistoric Arrow Poison Discovery. University of Johannesburg Palaeo-Research Institute.
