Poison, plants and Palaeolithic hunters. An analytical method to investigate the presence of plant poison on archaeological artefacts

Borgia, Valentina; Carlin, Michelle; Crezzini, Jacopo

doi:10.1016/j.quaint.2015.12.025

Cited by 23 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 33 publications

(12 reference statements)

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“…Jones (2007) has also summarized a wide variety of ethnohistoric and ethnographic data that document more extensive use of poisoned projectiles in North America than is usually considered (see also Ellis 1997; Flannery 1939:19, 71, 95; Quigley 1956; Van Wyk 2015; Weslager 1973:105–12). Also, Weissner (1983:261–263) has demonstrated a correlation between point size and use of poisons in southern Africa with smaller points associated with the use of various poisons (see also Borgia 2017; Lombard 2020).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Correlation of regional late woodland triangle projectile point variation and native American ethnic group territories in the central middle Atlantic

Custer

2022

North American Archaeologist

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The shapes and sizes of 983 Late Woodland triangular projectile points from four indigenous Native American different ethnic groups of the central Middle Atlantic region (Unami Lenapi – Lower Delaware Valley, Munsee Lenape – Upper Delaware Valley, Susquehannock – Lower Susquehanna Valley, Nanticoke – Lower Delmarva Peninsula) and one archaeological complex (Shenks Ferry – Lower Susquehanna Valley) were compared using various univariate statistical analytics, including the difference-of-mean and difference-of proportion tests, to see if there were any statistically significant morphological differences among them. There were none, even though earlier studies of small samples with anecdotal observations and comparisons stated that there were observable differences among the projectile points of the various ethnic groups. This study's findings refute the axiomatic assumption of traditional normative culture approaches that there must be identifiable stylistic variation in projectile points among different ethnic groups. In the case of Late Woodland triangular projectile points in the central Middle Atlantic region, the technological prerequisites of shock hunting with bows and stone-tipped arrows limited inter-ethnic group variation in projectile point forms. However, use of poisons may have affected overall projectile point sizes.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Correlation of regional late woodland triangle projectile point variation and native American ethnic group territories in the central middle Atlantic

Custer

2022

North American Archaeologist

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“…Thus, the possibility that poison was applied on bone arrowpoints from El Alto 5 is open. However, residue analysis should be conducted before any decisive functional label is assigned to this substance (see Borgia et al 2017) and poison recipes also need to be closely explored (Jolís 1972(Jolís [1789 Although the raw material was the by-products of food consumption, the manufacturing of the bone projectile points required a high manufacture effort, showing that late prehispanic groups elaborated costly, standardized and reliable tools for warfare. Experiments carried out by Zhilin (2015) showed that, once bone has been softened in water for two months, it took about 3-4 hours to produce a needle-like arrowpoint.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

When Humans Were the Hunted: Bone-Tipped Arrowpoints in Prehispanic Sierras of Córdoba, Argentina

Medina

Lallami

Pastor

2022

Preprint

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Projectile points are one of the most commonly preserved artefacts at archaeological sites worldwide, yet few studies have investigated how hunting and warfare intended use affected the design and morphological variation of this technology. This paper presents the techno-typological study carried out on seven bone projectile points closely associated to a burial assemblage excavated from El Alto 5 (~ 550 cal BP, Sierras of Córdoba, Argentina). The bone point assemblage provides a useful comparative model for interpreting the function of arrowpoints where this contextual data is unavailable, concerning primarily with the question of how archaeologists can accurately differentiate the arrow tips used for defense or attack from those used for hunting. Bone arrowpoints have barbed shoulders to resist removal from the wound and stems with serrated edges for a secure hafting. They required shafts few millimeter thicker than stone-tipped arrows for hafting, involving more kinetic energy to inflict severe injuries. The identification of a dark residue spattered over the blades opens the possibility that poison was applied to enhance the effectiveness of the shoot. The study is considered a starting point to build more accurate models to identify interpersonal violence during the Late Prehispanic Period of Sierras of Córdoba and neighboring regions, where most bone points occurred as domestic refuse and are not directly associated to human skeletal remains.

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“…Coupled to this problem is the fact that most arrow poisons, at least those we know of from the ethno-historical record, were actually complex recipes, comprising many ingredients and preparatory steps 10 , 14 , 15 , and which differed from region to region 16 , 17 . Some non-toxic ingredients were also added for their adhesive properties, or simply because they were believed to impart certain effects 18 – 20 . For example, trapdoor spiders were ground up whole and mixed with other ingredients 21 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Potential biomarkers for southern African hunter-gatherer arrow poisons applied to ethno-historical and archaeological samples

Isaksson¹,

Högberg²,

Lombard³

et al. 2023

Sci Rep

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The detection of complex poison recipes applied to ancient hunting weapons has the potential to provide important insights into traditional pharmacological knowledge systems. Yet, recipes comprising many ingredients can be challenging to decipher, especially in older samples that have undergone biodegradation. We present the results of our attempt to analyze samples of poison collected from nineteenth and twentieth century arrowheads from southern Africa, and from a 1000-year-old archaeological bone point. The arrow poison residues and reference samples were analyzed by Attenuated Total Reflectance Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (ATR FTIR) and Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GC–MS). The ATR FTIR analysis is primarily able to separate between different arrow poison binder recipes. The extractives identified by GC–MS analysis consist of a multitude of components from both binders and active substances, confirming and adding to the results from the ATR FTIR analyses. We discuss the results in terms of potential biomarkers for arrow poisons in organic residue analyses of archaeological artefacts; that residues of toxic cardiotonic glycosides can be detected on curated and excavated arrow tips of between about 1000 and 100 years old, serves as proof of concept for working with older materials in the future.

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Poison, plants and Palaeolithic hunters. An analytical method to investigate the presence of plant poison on archaeological artefacts

Cited by 23 publications

References 33 publications

Correlation of regional late woodland triangle projectile point variation and native American ethnic group territories in the central middle Atlantic

Correlation of regional late woodland triangle projectile point variation and native American ethnic group territories in the central middle Atlantic

When Humans Were the Hunted: Bone-Tipped Arrowpoints in Prehispanic Sierras of Córdoba, Argentina

Potential biomarkers for southern African hunter-gatherer arrow poisons applied to ethno-historical and archaeological samples

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