Recent archaeological findings have unveiled traces of two toxic plant alkaloids, bupandoline and epibufanisin, in artifacts discovered at the Umhlatuzana Rock Complex in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. These artifacts, known as lined microliths, date back approximately 60,000 years, providing evidence of poisoned weaponry from the Late Pleistocene era.
A lined microlith from the Umhlatuzana Caves, showing residues of bufanidrine and epibufanisin, along with reddish toxic glue attached to the tool. Image credit: Isaksson et al., doi: 10.1126/sciadv.adz3281.
Professor Marlies Lombard from the University of Johannesburg remarked, “This represents the earliest direct evidence of arrow poison used by humans.”
“Our research reveals that early humans in southern Africa invented the bow and arrow much earlier than previously believed and utilized natural compounds to enhance hunting efficiency.”
Using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, Lombard and her team analyzed residues from 10 quartz microliths, identifying bufanidrine and epibufanisin in five of them.
These compounds are derived from the Amaryllidaceae plant family, which is indigenous to southern Africa.
The likely source is a plant species known as Buffondistica, historically associated with arrow poisons.
The residue patterns indicate that the Umhlatuzana microlith had a transverse handle and served as an arrow tip.
Visible poison residue along the dorsal part of some artifacts suggests that toxic compounds were incorporated into the adhesive used to attach the stone tip to the arrow shaft.
The presence of minor impact scars and edge striations supports its use as a tip for horizontally-handled arrows.
To validate their results, researchers compared the ancient residues with poisons extracted from 18th-century arrowheads in South Africa.
“Finding the same poison in both prehistoric and historical arrowheads was crucial,” stated Professor Sven Isaksson of Stockholm University.
“Through detailed analysis of the chemical structures, we confirmed that these materials can endure underground for extended periods.”
This groundbreaking discovery pushes the timeline for toxic weapons back significantly.
Previously, the oldest known arrow poisons were dated to the mid-Holocene, but the findings from Umhlatuzana demonstrate their use as far back as 60,000 years ago.
The authors explain that poisoned arrows are designed not for immediate kills, but to weaken animals over time, allowing hunters to track prey over great distances.
“Utilizing arrow poison requires foresight, strategy, and a keen understanding of natural effects,” noted Professor Anders Högberg from Linnaeus University.
“This indicates a level of cognitive sophistication in early human behavior.”
For further details, refer to the study published on January 7th in Scientific Advances.
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Sven Isaksson et al. 2026. Direct evidence of poison use in microlithic arrowheads from southern Africa, dating back 60,000 years. Scientific Advances, 12(2);doi: 10.1126/sciadv.adz3281
Source: www.sci.news
