We thought we had closed the budget on this one incredible year for archaeology, full of discoveries capable of making us rewrite the history books. We were wrong: there is still surprising news, and it comes from the Andes.
The latest finds show that the use of the bow is much older than previously believed. The discovery, which "dates back" archery to 5.000 years ago, redefines the history of Andean civilizations and opens new perspectives on the hunting and warfare practices of these ancient peoples.
The discovery
Recent excavations in the Andes have brought to light, as mentioned, significant finds that testify to the use of the bow already 5.000 years ago. The place is on the basin of Lake Titicaca: there the anthropologists discovered everything, through the analysis of 1.179 arrowheads.
The discovery was made by an international team of archaeologists, who carefully analyzed the tools and remains found, and contradicts all previous theories, which placed the introduction of archery in these regions in a much more recent period. I link the paper here.
This discovery has profound implications for understanding ancient Andean culture. The use of the bow suggests a high level of technical and organizational skill, as well as providing new insights into the hunting and fighting strategies of these populations. Furthermore, this could indicate an earlier interaction between different cultures and civilizations, given that the bow was a widespread instrument in various parts of the world.
Research technologies and methods
The research team used advanced technologies to date and analyze the finds. Among these, the mass spectrometry , digital radiography they played a crucial role in identifying the age and composition of the materials.
These increasingly decisive methods have allowed us to obtain an accurate estimate of the age of objects and provided valuable details on their manufacture and use.
It is not the first time in 2023 that a discovery rewrites the history of an area. In this case, it provides concrete evidence of advanced technological prowess much earlier than previously thought, demonstrating that Andean civilizations had developed sophisticated skills at a time when many other cultures were still emerging.
Arc on the Andes: conclusions and reflections
The discovery of bow use in the Andes 5.000 years ago is a reminder that history is an ever-changing field, where new discoveries can overturn established theories.
This demonstrates the importance of archaeological research in continually rewriting our understanding of the past. More new and fascinating stories will emerge in 2024, shedding light on previously unknown or misinterpreted aspects of human history.