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Narrowing Down When Humans Began Hurling Spears

sciencehabit writes "Archaeologists have long debated when early humans began hurling stone-tipped spears and darts at large prey. By throwing a spear, instead of thrusting it, humans could hunt buffalo and other dangerous game from a safe distance, with less risk of a goring or mauling. But direct evidence of this hunting technique in early sites has been lacking. A new study of impact marks on the bones of ancient prey shows that such sophisticated killing techniques go back at least 90,000 years ago in Africa and offers a new method of determining how prehistoric hunters made their kills."

9 of 208 comments (clear)

  1. Just Look For... by sycodon · · Score: 3, Funny

    ...rocks with rules scratched into them regarding Spear Control.

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    When Fascism comes to America, it will call itself Anti-Fascism, and tell you to give up your guns.
    1. Re:Just Look For... by Tablizer · · Score: 5, Funny

      But the National Spear Association lobbied against controls. Even cave babies were allowed to own spears.

    2. Re:Just Look For... by sycodon · · Score: 4, Funny

      That's because they wanted people to keep their spear disassembled when not in use. So when a Sabertoothed Tiger came into your cave, you would have had to ask it to wait while you tied the pointy rock to the end. And before you start, short pointy sticks are only good against other cavemen.

      --
      When Fascism comes to America, it will call itself Anti-Fascism, and tell you to give up your guns.
    3. Re:Just Look For... by dantotheman · · Score: 3, Funny

      Regulation turned into a big mess when people figured out how to 3d print them using only trees.

  2. And also, by M0j0_j0j0 · · Score: 3, Funny

    Archaeologists also found evidence that the main damage was on creatures skulls , which led them to the conclusion: Aimbot!!!

  3. Any EULAs/royalties/licensing spears? by k6mfw · · Score: 3, Funny

    Og comes up with a superior spear, shares it with rest of tribe ("its open source") but gets taken to court for because he was not licensed. Og documents his experience (drawings in a cave) but someone yells copyright infringement and drawings are erased.

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    mfwright@batnet.com
  4. Re:I don't think man ever hunted spears. by JustOK · · Score: 5, Funny

    Leave Britney ALONE!!!!

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    rewriting history since 2109
  5. Re:Brains are a funny thing by punman · · Score: 5, Funny

    The Romain Empire used concrete extensively, even hydraulic cement (cures under water).

    After the Empire fell, they went back to building with rocks.

    Lettuce hear more of this Romaine empire ...

  6. Re:Brains are a funny thing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    The Romain Empire

    So that's why it's called caesar salad