Neanderthal Spear Discovery Sheds New Light on Prehistoric Innovation!
Archaeologists working in the Caucasus Mountains of southern Russia have made a discovery that’s turning long-held beliefs about Neanderthals on their head. Hidden away in Mezmaiskaya Cave, a 9-centimetre-long bone spear point has been identified as the oldest of its kind ever found in Europe, dating back a staggering 70,000 to 80,000 years.
This ancient spear point, crafted from a bison’s leg bone, is much more than just a fascinating find. It’s a game-changer. For years, Neanderthals were seen as primitive, lacking the ingenuity of our own species. But this artefact tells a very different story. It shows they were developing complex hunting tools all on their own, well before modern humans even arrived in Europe.
The spear tip itself was actually discovered back in 2003, buried alongside animal bones, flint fragments, stone tools, and the remains of a hearth. For decades, it was overlooked. Only recently have scientists taken a closer look using modern techniques like CT scans, powerful microscopes, and spectroscopy. What they found was remarkable.
The spear had been carefully shaped with stone tools, fire-hardened, and even fixed to a wooden shaft using tar—yes, tar! That sticky black stuff doesn’t just appear naturally; it has to be made by heating organic material in a controlled way. In other words, Neanderthals were using heat-based adhesives long before the idea would’ve occurred to most of us.
Palaeoarchaeologist Liubov V. Golovanova, who led the study published in the Journal of Archaeological Science, called it a “unique pointy bone artefact.” According to her team, it didn’t need to be needle-sharp like an awl, but instead had a strong, conical tip, with a symmetrical shape and a straight profile—perfect for hunting.
Photo Credit: Liubov V. Golovanova et al
Evidence of micro-cracks and wear on the tip confirms that it was actually used, although interestingly, it seems to have broken quite early on—possibly even during its first hunt. There’s even evidence that the Neanderthal who made it tried to repair it by grinding down the damaged part. Talk about resourceful.
What really brings the scene to life is where the spear was found: near a hearth, inside a natural hollow on a limestone slab. This wasn’t just a random campsite—it was a long-term workshop. Generations of Neanderthals would have gathered here to craft tools, cook, and butcher animals like deer, birds, bison, and goats.
Perhaps the most fascinating part is what this discovery reveals about Neanderthal intelligence. The spear’s aerodynamic shape, polished surfaces, and fire-hardened bone all point to an understanding of physics and hunting tactics—techniques we usually associate with much later Homo sapiens. And yet, this find predates the arrival of modern humans in Europe by at least 25,000 years.
One mystery does remain: why haven’t we found more tools like this? The simple answer might be that bone, unlike stone, doesn’t survive the test of time all that well, especially outside protective environments like caves. That makes rare discoveries like this all the more precious, offering a rare glimpse into the minds and methods of our ancient cousins.