NEW YORK โ A recent analysis suggests that a group of ancient wooden spears discovered in Germany may be younger than previously thought and potentially crafted and used by Neanderthals rather than their ancestors. The complete spears, which are constructed from spruce and pine, rank among the oldest known hunting tools. These artifacts were unearthed more than 20 years ago in a coal mine in the town of Schรถningen along with the remains of approximately 50 horses.
Initial estimates dated these spears to be around 300,000 years old, leading scientists to attribute them to early human ancestors known as Homo heidelbergensis. This group is believed to be the last ancestor shared by humans and Neanderthals. However, by employing a new dating method, researchers now suggest that the spears might be closer to 200,000 years old. Published findings in the journal Science Advances indicate that this new timeframe suggests the hunting implements could have been used by Neanderthals.
There has been growing evidence that Neanderthals had interactions with early humans, including interbreeding. The intricately designed spears offer valuable insights into Neanderthal capabilities and their cooperation strategies in hunting.
The spearsโ sophistication, given their age, is impressive, according to study co-author Jarod Hutson from the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. Nevertheless, the reason for the discrepancy between the new dating and earlier estimates remains a mystery. Archaeologist Thomas Terberger from the University of Gรถttingen emphasized that further investigation is needed to confirm the precise age of the spears and determine the users of these hunting implements.
While Terberger, who was not involved in the recent study, finds the arguments compelling, he cautions that they are not yet definitively convincing.