This discovery suggests that such sticks could potentially have been used not only to hunt large mammals, but also to hunt birds or smaller animals during the Lower Paleolithic.

Where was the spear found?

The area around Schöningen, in the north of modern Germany, is known for its rich paleontological and archaeological finds. During interglacial times, there was a lake here that attracted both animals and ancient human populations. Evidence of human habitation in the Schönningen area dates back to 337,000-300,000 years ago. Despite years of excavation, no extinct hominin remains have been found in this area.

Schöningen’s reputation is primarily associated with the exceptionally well-preserved Lower Paleolithic wooden artifacts, which are archaeologically rare. Among the finds are nine throwing spears made of spruce and pine wood, a barbed spear and two sharpened sticks. These artifacts are believed to have been made by the Man of Heidelberg (Homo heidelbergensis). 300,000 years ago.

old bullet gun

In a recently published paper, Annemike Milks of the University of Reading, together with colleagues from Great Britain and Germany, presented the results of the study of one such artifact, a rod with both ends, found in Schöningen in 1994. Using modern, non-destructive methods, scientists aimed to determine the purpose of the object and its intended use.

While the prevailing hypothesis was that the artifact served as a metal rod, researchers explored alternative possibilities, including its potential use as a short-spined cutting weapon, a digger, a bark removing tool, and even a children’s spear.

opening details

The object found is a slightly curved stick with a length of 77.2 centimeters and a maximum thickness of 2.5 centimeters. Although it exists today in two pieces, archaeologists first discovered it as a single entity. The analysis showed that ancient people made the object from a spruce branch, but paleobotanical evidence indicates that these trees did not grow near the ancient lake, meaning the raw material was likely obtained from elsewhere.

It is interesting that the ancient craftsman carefully removed the bark, removed the knots, formed the stick and cut both ends with stone tools. There are no visible cracks in the wood, indicating that the material has dried properly. It remains unclear whether these were part of the original manufacturing process or remains of later use, though both ends showed signs of potential annealing or processing with materials such as solids or wax. In addition, the artifact had additional polishing marks.

The forged stick could have been an ancient weapon / Photo: PLoS ONE, 2023

Although there was no visible damage to the surface of the stick from use, some signs indicated that the object had been used for a long time. In particular, there were no scratches to be expected from using a stick as a pickaxe or bark removal tool. Archaeologists suggest that the artifact was lost on the lake shore in ancient times, most likely during its intended use, rather than deliberately discarded.

This new understanding of ancient hunting practices further enriches our understanding of our distant past, providing a fascinating insight into the creativity and adaptability of early human societies. The work from Schönningen will continue to be the focus of research, providing valuable clues about the intelligence and abilities of our more than 300,000-year-old ancestors.