The earliest evidence for mechanically delivered projectile weapons in Europe.
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ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Sano K
PROVIDER: S-EPMC6823051 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Oct
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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The earliest evidence for mechanically delivered projectile weapons in Europe.
Sano Katsuhiro K Arrighi Simona S Stani Chiaramaria C Aureli Daniele D Boschin Francesco F Fiore Ivana I Spagnolo Vincenzo V Ricci Stefano S Crezzini Jacopo J Boscato Paolo P Gala Monica M Tagliacozzo Antonio A Birarda Giovanni G Vaccari Lisa L Ronchitelli Annamaria A Moroni Adriana A Benazzi Stefano S
Nature ecology & evolution 20190926 10
Microscopic analysis of backed lithic pieces from the Uluzzian technocomplex (45-40 thousand yr ago) at Grotta del Cavallo (southern Italy) reveals their use as mechanically delivered projectile weapons, attributed to anatomically modern humans. Use-wear and residue analyses indicate that the lithics were hunting armatures hafted with complex adhesives, while experimental and ethnographic comparisons support their use as projectiles. The use of projectiles conferred a hunting strategy with a hig ...[more]
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