麻豆淫院

Universit茅 de Bordeaux and the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography Novosibirsk report initial findings from an ~80 ka site, Obi-Rakhmat in Uzbekistan, identifying three projectile armature types, including unretouched triangular micropoints compatible with arrow-like shafts.

Hunting instruments are a distinctive trait of the Homo genus, with meat consumption affecting human evolution cognitively and behaviorally. Small and middle-sized lithic points have previously been identified as projectile heads in Initial or Early Upper Paleolithic assemblages.

Projectile armatures after this era have become the central focus of lithic industries. Light projectile points receive limited attention in research on the Middle to Upper Paleolithic transition.

In the study, "Arrow heads at Obi-Rakhmat (Uzbekistan) 80 ka ago?," in PLOS ONE, researchers designed a traceological search to identify weapon heads in the oldest layers of the Obi-Rakhmat rock shelter.

Obi-Rakhmat rock shelter sits in the Paltau valley at the south-western end of the Talassky Alatau range of the Tien Shan, northeastern Uzbekistan. Exposed stratigraphy includes 21 sedimentary levels across 10 m with archaeological material throughout and dates ranging from 90 ka to 40 ka.

Layers 20鈥�21 yielded 194 point specimens and 193 small triangular flakes (1鈥�3 cm) selected from lithic debris; all cores from layers 20鈥�21 (n=96) and 36 truncated-faceted pieces were examined. Twenty pieces were selected as possible projectile armatures.

Sorting began with naked-eye identification of impact damage, followed by stereoscopic microscopy. Specimens with minimal erosion were examined with reflective optical microscopy to discern microscopic linear impact traces.

Additional experiments reproduced debitage with local silicified limestone and tested mounting and impact. Twelve micropoints fixed to 8 mm-diameter commercial wooden arrow shafts without binding were shot from a 36-lb laminated bow at a complete uneviscerated small ungulate carcass hung in an anatomical position.

Results isolate three armature classes (large retouched points, micropoints, and bladelets) over the 20 selected pieces. Large retouched points include two almost complete specimens (38 mm and 41 mm wide) and a partial pointed half, each crushed at the tip by impact. A large proximal fragment bears a lateral fracture attributable to use as a spear tip.

Micropoints comprise nine unretouched and one retouched specimens produced from simple triangular flakes to typical Levallois points; two of these show fractures from longitudinal stress with microscopic linear impact traces. Average micropoint width equals 18.2 mm (15.0鈥�23.7 mm). Fractured specimens average 1.4 g (0.7鈥�2.5 g). One unbroken Levallois micropoint measures 21.8 mm long 脳 17.3 mm wide and weighs 1.1 g, with atypical edge damage.

Lack of basal shaping despite prominent bulbs and frequent fracture hinges on lower sides suggest mountings not perfectly in line with the axis; shafts were probably wood only, with no associated intermediate or apical bone elements reported.

Bladelets appear as lateral inserts in some cases, with discreet crushing consistent with projectile use. Two retouched or affected bladelets are described, while raw broken bladelets without retouch or MLIT remained excluded from the inventory. Bladelet use in hunting weapons at Obi-Rakhmat is indicated for ~80 ka, with larger sample needs noted for functional understanding.

The researchers conclude that micropoints impacted by use occur in the oldest layers (~80 ka) and that their almost microlithic shape renders them technically unsuitable for mounting on anything other than arrow-like shafts. Presence alongside more robust points and bladelets suggests three weapon types.

Future work aims to test persistence across stratigraphy. Evidence for small, lightweight sharp armatures within a Middle Paleolithic framework indicates potential emergence of complex weapon systems in the Initial Upper Paleolithic.

漏 2025 Science X Network