7,000-Year-Old Arrow Poison Found in South Africa, Shows Ancient Hunting Skills

A 7,000-year-old female bone belonging to an antelope discovered in the South African cave has confirmed a multi-clock arrow poison as soon as possible. Three modified bone arrows were found embedded inside the marrow cavity, and a recent scientific analysis has identified a mixture of plant-based toxins. This discovery provides new insight into the medicinal knowledge and hunting practices of early humans, which highlights the complexity of their technological progress and the understanding of toxins.

Scientific analysis of poisonous compound

according to the report Published In conversation, Justin Bradfield, Associate Professor at the University of Johannesburg as well as other researchers examined the femur using micro-CT imaging. Inside the marrow cavity, a substance like sediment was found to be a foreign matter instead of natural deposits. Chemical analysis confirmed the presence of digitoxin and strophinthidin, toxic cardiac glycosides that disrupt heart function. Recinolic acid, a derivative of ricin, was also detected, which suggests the use of sources of several plants to create a powerful poison.

Implications for ancient trade and knowledge systems

According to research, plants with these toxic compounds are not naturally found near the Krugar cave, where the femur was originally discovered. Any residue of these plants has not been identified in the previous archaeological studies of the area. This suggests that early humans either traveled long distances to achieve these materials or engaged in an organized business network for toxic plant content. Such conclusions highlight wide knowledge, early societies that their application in medicinal and toxic plants and hunting strategies.

Historical reference to the use of poison in hunting

Earlier evidence of the use of poison over 60,000 years with the development of projected hunting technology in Africa. While the chemical verification of such early poison use remains unconfirmed, the newly analyzed femur provides the first concrete evidence of mixed poison intentionally for the arrow. Application of plant-based toxins for hunting weapons is an important evolutionary step in the efficiency of ancient hunting techniques, performing a sophisticated level of plan and knowledge transfer between early human groups.