Neolithic archers in southern Iberia were true masters of their craft, as evidenced by the discovery of Europe’s oldest known bowstring and fletched arrows. Found in a cave near Granada, Spain, the 7,000-year-old artifacts are fashioned from a range of unexpected materials that would have enhanced the power and precision of the ancient weapons.
Originally discovered by miners in the 19th century, the Stone Age items appear to have been intentionally buried alongside human remains in a funerary cave known as Cueva de Los Murciélagos (Cave of the Bats).
Made of various species of wood and animal fibers, the prehistoric artifacts remain in excellent condition thanks to the dry conditions within the cave, which caused them to become desiccated and therefore prevented them from rotting away over the millennia.
Like Bruce Wayne’s Batcave, Cueva de Los Murciélagos seems to have been suitably stocked with some of the most innovative weaponry of its age, and a new analysis has now revealed some of the secrets behind these archaic armaments. For instance, the two bowstrings found within the lair were made with the interwoven sinews of multiple animal species, including goats, boar, and deer.
“With this technique, strong and flexible ropes could be made, to meet the needs of experienced archers,” explained study author Raquel Piqué in a statement. “This degree of precision and technical mastery, where every detail counts, attests to the exceptional knowledge of these Neolithic artisans”.
In their write-up, the researchers describe the items as “S-twisted cords” with a thickness of three to four centimeters (1.2 to 1.6 inches), which would have had “sufficient stretch and resistance” for use as bowstrings. Interestingly, similar cords were found alongside the famous corpse of Ötzi the Iceman, who lived several thousand years later in the Alps.
The arrows, meanwhile, were made from materials including olive and willow wood, as well as certain types of reed. In this sense, the projectiles from Cueva de Los Murciélagos differ from all other known examples of ancient arrows, which tend to be made from other woods such as pine and hazel.
According to the authors, olive wood would have made for an excellent arrow as it is “known for its strength and durability, while still maintaining a good amount of flexibility.” At the same time, the denseness of this hardwood may “enhance penetration and stability during flight.”
Examples of arrows made of olive, willow and reed, complete with animal sinew fibers.
Image credit: MUTERMUR Project
The researchers go on to explain that “willow is a relatively light wood which can be advantageous for creating fast arrows. Lighter arrows can travel at higher speeds, making them suitable for certain types of archery, particularly where speed and distance are prioritised.”
One reed arrow, meanwhile, included two feathers attached with fibers, making it the oldest fletched arrow ever discovered in Europe.
Overall, the discovery of these stunning weapons within a burial chamber raises some intriguing questions about the role of violence within Neolithic societies. According to the study authors, “evidence of intra-personal violence and cannibalism is well documented from other similar Neolithic contexts” in Spain, although it’s currently unclear if this cannibalism was ritualistic or antagonistic in nature.
For now, it’s hard to say exactly what went on in this prehistoric Batcave, although future analyses of the performance capabilities of these ancient weapons may provide some clues as to what they were used for.
The study is published in the journal Scientific Reports.