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Modern humans had superior hunting technology. Source: gerasimov174 / Adobe Stock.

Modern Humans' Advanced Weapons Outclassed the Neanderthals

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A team of Japanese and Italian researchers, sponsored by Tohoku University, have proven evidence of mechanically delivered projectile weapons in Europe dating to 45,000 - 40,000 years ago -- more than 20,000 years sooner than previously thought. This study, entitled " The earliest evidence for mechanically delivered projectile weapons in Europe" published in Nature Ecology & Evolution, indicated that the spear thrower and bow-and-arrow technologies allowed modern humans to hunt more successfully than Neanderthals -- giving them a competitive advantage. This discovery offers important insight to understanding the reasons for the replacement of Neanderthals by modern humans.

Apparently, Neanderthals and modern humans coexisted in Europe for at least 5,000 years. However, little is known about why modern humans could increase their population size after migrating to Europe and successfully occupy new territories, while autochthonous Neanderthals went extinct approximately 40,000 years ago.

The Study of Artifacts From the Uluzzian Culture

The research team included 17 scientists from Italy and Japan, coordinated by the archaeologists Katsuhiro Sano (Center for Northeast Asian Studies, Tohoku University) and Adriana Moroni (Department of Environment, Earth and Physical Sciences, University of Siena), and the paleoanthropologist Stefano Benazzi (Department of Cultural Heritage, University of Bologna).

They studied 146 crescent-shaped backed pieces (also referred to as lunates or segments) retrieved from the Uluzzian culture of Grotta del Cavallo (southern Italy), the first Upper Paleolithic culture developed by modern humans in Europe. “Similar backed pieces have been observed in East Africa, although there is no archaeological evidence indicating a route from East Africa into Europe. To better understand the differences in the Uluzzian practices from previous lithic traditions, as well as the significance of the emergence of this new culture in Europe, it was crucial to identify the function of the backed pieces,” said Adriana Moroni.

Broken experimental replicas of Uluzzian backed pieces. (Nature Ecology & Evolution)

Broken experimental replicas of Uluzzian backed pieces. (Nature Ecology & Evolution)

The Team Analyzed the Hunting Weapons

The backed pieces were macroscopically and microscopically analyzed using a Hirox digital microscope and results were compared with use-wear patterns on experimental samples. Through this analysis, diagnostic impact fractures and microscopic impact linear traces were found on numerous backed pieces, demonstrating that they were used as hunting weapons.

“The diagnostic impact fractures showed the similar patterns of experimental samples delivered by a spear thrower and a bow, but were significantly different from those observed on throwing and thrusting samples,” said Katsuhiro Sano. “Modern humans migrating into Europe equipped themselves with mechanically delivered projectile weapons, such as a spear thrower-dart or a bow-and-arrow, which was a higher impact energy hunting strategy and offered modern humans a substantive advantage over Neanderthals,” concluded Sano.

Tip of a Schöningen spear (a) and representative Uluzzian backed pieces, used by modern humans, from Grotta del Cavallo (b). (Nature Ecology & Evolution)

Tip of a Schöningen spear (a) and representative Uluzzian backed pieces, used by modern humans, from Grotta del Cavallo (b). (Nature Ecology & Evolution)

Ancient Adhesive Used by Modern Humans

Furthermore, fourier transform-infrared (FTIR) spectromicroscopy of residue on several pieces demonstrate that the backed pieces were hafted using a complex adhesive, including ochre, plant gum, and beeswax, which stabilized the hafting. “Comparison with FTIR spectroscopy analyses of several red deposit and soil samples recovered from Grotta del Cavallo ruled out organic contaminants from the burial environment and confirmed the presence of ochre as a mixture of silicate and iron oxides,” said Chiaramaria Stani (Elettra-Sincrotrone Trieste).

Possible hafting modes of Uluzzian backed pieces based on the distribution of residue. (Nature Ecology & Evolution)

Possible hafting modes of Uluzzian backed pieces based on the distribution of residue. (Nature Ecology & Evolution)

“As the advanced hunting strategy is straightforwardly related to a competitive advantage, this study offered important insight to understand the reasons for the replacement of Neanderthals by modern humans,” said Stefano Benazzi. Benazzi is Principal Investigator of the ERC project n.724046 -- SUCCESS, a project aimed at understanding when modern humans arrived in southern Europe, the biocultural processes that favored their successful adaptation, and the final cause of Neanderthal extinction.

Top image: Modern humans had superior hunting technology. Source: gerasimov174 / Adobe Stock.

The article ‘Insight Into Competitive Advantage of Modern Humans Over Neanderthals’ was originally published on Science Daily.

Source: Tohoku University. "Insight into competitive advantage of modern humans over Neanderthals." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 30 September 2019.

References

Sano, K., Arrighi, S., Stani, C., Aureli, D., Boschin, F., Fiore, I., Spagnolo, V., Ricci, S., Crezzini, J., Boscato, P., Gala, M., Tagliacozzo, A., Birarda, G., Vaccari, L., Ronchitelli, A., Moroni, A., and Benazzi, S. 2019. The earliest evidence for mechanically delivered projectile weapons in Europe. Nature Ecology & Evolution, [Online] Available at: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41559-019-0990-3

 
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