2024/12/05 by Ingrid Bertin, María Martín Seijo, Francisco Martínez‐Sevilla +8 · 1 voice
Arts and Humanities · Social Sciences · Earth and Planetary Sciences · #Archaeological and Geological Studies #Pleistocene-Era Hominins and Archaeology #Archaeology and ancient environmental studies
paper · pdf · doi:10.1038/s41598-024-77224-w
openalex publication_date 2024/12/05 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/04
The extraordinary preservation of Cueva de Los Murciélagos (Albuñol, Spain) provides a unique opportunity to identify the materials and the techniques involved in archery during the Early Neolithic period. Arrows with preserved feathers, tied fibres, adhesive substance, and two probable bowstrings have been studied trough an unprecedented multi-proxy investigation, including microscopy and biomolecular methods, to unravel archery techniques. The study has identified the oldest known sinew bowstrings, the first evidence for the use of olive tree (Olea europaea) and reed (Phragmites sp.) to produce arrow shafts in prehistoric European archery, and the identification of birch bark tar as a coating on the shafts. The results of this study provide insights into ancient craft, technological solutions, and adaptations to local resources in the production of these reed-shafted hardwood tipped arrows and bowstrings. Their deposition in a burial cave sheds new light on the role of these artefacts in a Neolithic farming community.