7,000-year-old multi-component arrow poison discovered in South Africa A groundbreaking discovery in South Africa’s Kruger Cave has uncovered early humans’ sophisticated hunting techniques. Researchers have confirmed that one of the oldest documented multi-component poison coatings on weapons dates back 7,000 years. This new development brings to light information about early humans’ pharmacological knowledge and cognitive capabilities. The artifact, an antelope femur bone, first appeared in 1983 and was stored at the University of the Witwatersrand’s Archaeology Department. The bone contained three bone arrowheads inserted into its marrow cavity. Micro-CT scans, along with a variety of cutting-edge techniques, revealed that its cavity housed a sediment-like substance, with tests conducted afterward... More information: https://archaeologymag.com/2025/01/multi-component-arrow-poison-in-south-africa/