A stone-tipped spear found in Ethiopia, some 280,000 years old, may change the way we think about the evolution of Homo sapiens and the history of weapon use. Rather than Homo sapiens being the first to use such spears, this discovery indicates that Homo heidelbergensis may have been their creator.
Homo heidelbergensis, the predecessor of Homo sapiens, lived about 700,000-200,000 years ago and is considered a possible direct ancestor of modern humans. He may have had access to obsidian, the material from which spearheads were made, and his population may have been large enough to cooperate and innovate. If so, Homo heidelbergensis is behind early technological advances involving the use of weapons.
The use of stone tips on spears gave hunters a distinct advantage. They could inflict more damage on prey and create distance between themselves and their prey. Stone-tipped spears were probably used as a throwing weapon rather than a stabbing mechanism.
The discovery of spearheads near animal remains raises questions about which animals were the prey of the first hunters with stone weapons. Researchers have not yet been able to determine the identity of these animals, but it could be key to understanding the first hunting strategies and the impact of using stone tips on the evolution of Homo sapiens.
The discovery also raises questions about the extent to which anatomical changes, especially to the skull, are necessary for the development of sophisticated technological advances. It is already known that Homo heidelbergensis used wooden spears more than 400,000 years ago, so the addition of a stone tip was not a big deal. This may indicate that the development of weapon technology did not always require radical anatomical changes.
Despite all the questions and discoveries, this discovery of a stone-tipped spear in Ethiopia is an important step in understanding the evolution of Homo sapiens and the history of weapon use. It highlights the complexity and diversity of our ancestors and allows us to better understand how they evolved and adapted to their environment.
