Ancient wooden spears found in Germany may have been wielded by Neanderthals, a new study suggests

NEW YORK – A acceptable of past woody spears whitethorn beryllium younger than scientists thought and wielded by Neanderthals alternatively of their ancestors.

The implicit spears made of spruce and conifer are among the oldest known hunting weapons. They were discovered successful a ember excavation implicit 2 decades agone successful the German municipality of Schöningen on with the remains of astir 50 horses.

Previous estimates dated the spears to 300,000 years agone truthful scientists thought the weapons belonged to a radical of early humans called Homo heidelbergensis — thought to beryllium the past communal ancestor betwixt humans and Neanderthals.

But the caller investigation utilizing a antithetic dating method suggests the spears are younger, placing them astir 200,000 years old. The caller property means the hunting weapons whitethorn person been utilized by Neanderthals instead, according to probe published Friday successful the diary Science Advances.

Recent enactment has suggested that immoderate Neanderthals mixed and mated with aboriginal humans. The balanced, well-crafted spears could assistance scientists recognize what Neanderthals were susceptible of and however they worked unneurotic to hunt.

The spears are “pretty blase for thing that old," said survey co-author Jarod Hutson with the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History.

But it's not yet wide wherefore the caller dating disagrees with erstwhile estimates. Archaeologist Thomas Terberger with the University of Göttingen said much probe is needed to beryllium definite of the spears' property and who utilized them to hunt.

“For the moment, I find the arguments interesting, but not perfectly convincing,” said Terberger, who had nary relation successful the caller study.

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