Arrow tips found in South Africa are the oldest evidence of poison use in hunting

The discovery that small stone arrow tips were treated with plant poison 60,000 years ago means that ancient African hunters were capable of complex thinking.

By: Marlize Lombard, University of Johannesburg, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: January 12, 2026

Words: 1,034

Last Updated: 2 months, 1 week ago

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By Marlize Lombard, University of Johannesburg

The oldest evidence for the use of arrow poison globally was long thought to come from Egypt, dating to 4,000 years ago. It was a black, toxic residue on bone arrowheads from a tomb at the Naga ed Der archaeological site.

New evidence from southern Africa is challenging this.

New research has found poison on stone arrow tips from South Africa dating to 60,000 years ago. It …

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