Archaeologists working in northeastern Uzbekistan have unearthed ancient stone arrowheads in the Obi-Rahmat cave, potentially reshaping current theories about early human hunting techniques.
The artifacts, detailed in a study published in PLOS ONE, are estimated to be around 80,000 years old, The Caspian Post reports, citing The Times of Central Asia.
These tools are now among the earliest known examples of long-range hunting technology in Central Asia, offering new insights into the capabilities and innovations of early human populations in the region.
The excavation site, located in the western foothills of the Tian Shan Mountains, yielded a collection of small, triangular stone points embedded within sediment layers representing 40,000 years of human occupation. Researchers concluded that the arrow-like tips are too slender to have served any purpose other than as projectiles, making them among the oldest ranged hunting tools ever found in the region.
Until now, such finely crafted projectile points had been primarily associated with later Homo sapiens sites in Europe, dating back only 25,000 years. Their presence in Uzbekistan suggests that sophisticated hunting techniques involving lightweight weapons may have developed far earlier than previously believed.
The arrowheads were uncovered alongside a broader assemblage of Early Middle Paleolithic tools, including blades, bladelets, and flakes. The toolset reflects both continuity with Levantine lithic traditions and unique adaptations specific to Central Asia. Researchers used microscopic trace analysis to identify impact damage patterns on the points, clear evidence of high-speed delivery mechanisms such as arrows or darts.
Experts note that ranged weapons would have provided early humans with significant evolutionary advantages, allowing them to hunt more efficiently and with reduced risk. This technological innovation may have been crucial in supporting human migration and adaptation across Eurasia.
This discovery adds to a growing body of archaeological breakthroughs in Uzbekistan. In October 2024, researchers using advanced laser scanning technology revealed two lost cities in the country’s southeast. These urban centers, which thrived between the 6th and 11th centuries AD, include a site believed to have been a metalworking hub and another that showed early Islamic cultural influences, underscoring the importance of Uzbekistan along ancient trade routes.
Further excavations in December at Mengchaktepa, a key Silk Road settlement on the northern bank of the Syr Darya River, yielded new insights. Known as the “Living Fossil of the Silk Road,” the site has been under continuous investigation since 2012 through a joint expedition by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) and Uzbekistan’s Institute of Archaeology.
