Earliest evidence for Neolithic-Age archery in Spain

Neolithic people on the Iberian Peninsula were experts in advanced bow- and arrow-making techniques, according to a new study of finds in Spain. The remains of the ancient ranged weapons, dating from 5300–4900 BC, include Europe’s oldest sinew bowstrings. The findings are based on in-depth lab analysis of exceptional artefacts recovered from Cueva de Los Murciélagos, a cave in Albuñol, Granada, Spain. The study, led by Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), used advanced microscopy and biomolecular methodologies. The bow was found to be of yew (Taxus baccata) wood, which was widely used across Europe, suggesting a shared technological tradition throughout the region during this period. The analysis also revealed that the bowstrings were made from animal tissues: goat, boar, and roe deer tendons. The arrows were recovered with original feathers,…

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Ancient Warfare (Digital) - 1 Issue, AW XVIII.1

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