Boomerangs More Versatile Than Previously Thought
Australian archaeologists have found that boomerangs were more than hunting tools.
We typically think of boomerangs as little more than toys. This is exactly what the returning kind of boomerang we are most familiar with is supposed to be. Actually though, the boomerangs used as hunting or fighting weapons did not return and were extremely effective for their purpose.
Archaeologists have recently found evidence that these tools were also used in another way.
Like we might sharpen a metal knife, stone tools also lose their edge with use and need reworking (or retouching) to make them sharp. We have known for some time that other cultures often used bone or antler for this purpose and we can see that by analyzing marks left on the reworking tool. Now, however, archaeologists have found signs that Australia’s indigenous people used hardwood boomerangs as tools for retouching these stone edges as well.
After analyzing 100 ancient boomerangs, archaeologists found that 26 of them had been used for retouching stone tools.
This, along with much of archaeology speaks to the remarkable adaptability and creativity of people throughout history.
http://www.sci-news.com/archaeology/australian-boomerang-retouchers-09551.html
Stone Age Stoners
A cave in France was visited to induce hallucinations.
Archaeologists in France have found a cave that people visited from 11,000 to 40,000 years ago. The airflow in this cave is poor enough that when fire is introduced for lighting the oxygen levels are reduced to the point where anyone inside experiences hypoxia. This experience can induce headaches, euphoria and even hallucinations and out of body experiences. Researchers believe...
https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/stoned-in-the-stone-age-prehistoric-humans-got-high-israeli-scholars-664547
Joke of the Day
“In ancient times cats were worshiped as gods; they have not forgotten this.”
- Terry Pratchett
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