Prehistoric archers who lived 7,000 years ago in the region that now occupies the province of Granada made the strings of their bows with tendons from three animal species: fallow deer, Capra sp. (a genus that includes several species of goats and ibexes), and Sus sp. (which includes wild boar and pig). The tendons were twisted together to create strong, flexible strings of sufficient length, showcasing the deep knowledge that the Neolithic Iberian societies inhabiting the southwest of the Peninsula had of the techniques and materials for archery.
This was revealed by research led by scientists from the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB) and published on Thursday in the journal Scientific Reports. The study describes how they identified in the Cave of Los Murciélagos in Albuñol the oldest bowstrings in Europe, which were made from tendons of these animal species.
Regarding the manufacture of arrows, the analysis revealed that they were made of olive wood (Olea europaea) and cane (Phragmites sp). According to the researchers, the use of cane for arrow making in Prehistory in Europe was a hypothesis that had been considered before but had not been confirmed until now. Birch tar was used to coat the arrow shafts. This material would have been obtained through a controlled thermal treatment of the bark of this tree, which, according to the authors, was used not only for its protective properties but also, probably, for decorative purposes, adding an aesthetic and functional dimension to the equipment.
According to the authors, the use of olive wood and cane and birch tar for the arrows shows "an unprecedented level of precision and technical mastery by Neolithic artisans."
The estimated chronology for these activities in the Granada cave spans from 5,300 to 4900 B.C., and the "exceptional preservation" of these organic remains was possible because they dried out. Thus, 7,000 years after they were made, elements of the archery equipment of these Neolithic populations have been identified and documented.
Scientists have found arrows in the cave preserved with their original feathers, fiber remnants, and two bowstrings made from animal tendons, which are the oldest found in Europe so far, according to this team that also included scientists from other Spanish institutions such as the University of Alcalá (UAH), the Institute of Heritage Sciences (INCIPIT-CSIC), and the Institute of Environmental Science and Technology of the UAB (ICTA-UAB), as well as the University of the Côte d'Azur and the CNRS in France.
Additionally, the combination of olive wood, willow, and cane allows for the creation of a hard and dense front section, complemented by a light rear part, which, according to the researchers, "significantly improves the ballistic properties of the arrows, whose tips are made of wood without stone or bone projectiles."
As Ingrid Bertin explained, they will now conduct experiments to clarify whether these arrows could have been used for hunting or close combat, or if they could have been non-lethal arrows.