In 1983, researchers found an antelope femur in Kruger Cave, South Africa. This femur, 7,000 years old, contained arrowheads embedded in the marrow. It was only in 2022 that scientists from the University of Johannesburg decided to examine this fossil in more detail. To their great surprise, chemical analyses revealed that these arrowheads were coated with residues of plant toxins, indicating the use of poison in prehistoric hunting.
This discovery is part of a broader effort that has shed light on the use of complex plant-based poisons. Among the identified substances are digitoxin and strophanthin, two toxins affecting the heart muscle, as well as ricinoleic acid. These molecules, used to make arrows more effective, suggest that prehistoric hunters had advanced pharmacological knowledge, long before the emergence of the first civilizations.
Impressive mastery of plant toxins
The analysis of the bone marrow confirmed that the mixture of poisons on the arrowheads was highly complex. Not only do the identified toxins have a direct effect on the cardiac system, but they also come from plants that do not grow naturally near Kruger Cave. This indicates that ancient hunters had to travel long distances to obtain these ingredients or traded plants with other groups.
This discovery raises questions about long-distance exchange networks in prehistoric Africa. If these poisons came from other regions, it demonstrates that ancient societies were not isolated but engaged in the exchange of goods and knowledge across vast territories. This phenomenon highlights the ingenuity of the people of that time, capable of weaving complex connections to ensure their survival and hunting efficiency.
Prehistoric pharmacology: ancestral knowledge
The results of this study also open new perspectives on the pharmacological knowledge of prehistoric societies. The fact that these ancient hunters not only mastered the identification of toxic plants but also knew how to combine different toxins to create more potent mixtures testifies to sophisticated scientific knowledge for the time. This was not mere chance but a deliberate process, demonstrating a deep understanding of nature and its effects.
This pharmacological knowledge predates what was previously thought about prehistoric societies. Not only did hunters use plants to poison their weapons, but they also had an in-depth understanding of the medicinal and toxic properties of these plants. This ability to combine natural elements to create more effective products shows that these societies were far more intellectually advanced than previously imagined.
Poison in hunting: a technological innovation
The use of poison in hunting is not new. Molecular evidence suggests that the application of toxins to weapons dates back at least 60,000 years. However, this complex mixture discovered in Kruger Cave marks a significant advancement. It is not the oldest known poison, but it is the oldest multicomponent mixture identified to date. This innovation in the production of hunting poisons highlights a true technological progress in the field of weaponry.
Scientists specify that this kind of poison use was not limited to a single region but was widespread in many societies around the world. The peoples of southern Africa, in particular, used a wide variety of plants to coat their arrows, exploiting the toxic properties of plants to improve their chances of success in hunting. These early innovations allowed hunters to maximize their efficiency, turning hunting practices into a true strategic art.
Article author: Cédric DEPOND