Study finds oldest evidence of humans using poison-laced weapons

A study reports chemical traces of gifbol plant toxins on 60,000-year-old arrowheads from Umhlatuzana Rock Shelter in KwaZulu-Natal, which researchers describe as the oldest direct evidence of arrow poison; similar compounds were also found on 250-year-old arrowheads held in Swedish collections.

Archaeologists report chemical traces of plant poison on 60,000-year-old arrowheads found in South Africa. The artifacts were recovered at Umhlatuzana Rock Shelter in KwaZulu-Natal. Researchers conducted chemical analysis and identified compounds linked to the local plant gifbol. The study is published in Science Advances and the authors describe this as the oldest direct evidence of humans using arrow poison. Key findings: - Chemical residues of the poisonous-plant compounds buphanidrine and epibuphanisine were identified on quartz arrowheads dated to about 60,000 years ago. - The arrowheads were excavated from Umhlatuzana Rock Shelter in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. - The plant involved is reported as gifbol, which is still used by some traditional hunters in the region. - Comparable substances were found on 250-year-old arrowheads in Swedish collections that originated from the same region. - Authors involved include Marlize Lombard (University of Johannesburg), Sven Isaksson (Stockholm University) and Anders Högberg (Linnaeus University), and the study appears in Science Advances. Summary: Authors report that the chemical residues represent the oldest known example of arrow poison and indicate long continuity in the use of gifbol compounds by people in the region. Undetermined at this time.