External ballistics of Pleistocene hand-thrown spears: experimental performance data and implications for human evolution

• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-37904-w
• Publication Date: 2019-01-25T11:02:48Z
• Authors: Annemieke Milks; David Parker; Matt Pope
• Keywords: Ballistics

Abstract The appearance of weaponry - technology designed to kill is a critical but poorly established threshold in human evolution. It an important behavioural marker representing evolutionary changes ecology, cognition, language and social behaviours. While the earliest weapons are often considered be hand-held consequently short-ranged, subsequent distance crucial development. Projectiles seen as improvement over contact weapons, by some have originated only with our own species Middle Stone Age Upper Palaeolithic. Despite importance emergence full behavioral modernity, systematic experimentation using trained throwers evaluate ballistics thrown spears during flight at impact lacking. This paper addresses this presenting results from trial javelin athletes, providing new estimates for key performance parameters. Overlaps distances energies between hand-thrown spearthrowers evidenced, skill emerges significant factor successful use. show that hunting was likely within repertoire strategies Neanderthals, resulting flexibility closely mirrors species.