Schöninger spears: Latest dating brings new life to old hunting finds!

Schöninger spears: Latest dating brings new life to old hunting finds!

Schöningen, Lower Saxony, stands out not only as a place with picturesque landscape, but also as an important historical site, thanks to its impressive archaeological finds. The Schöningen spears in particular are the oldest surviving wooden hunting weapons in the world. Only recently the age of these fascinating artifacts was re-evaluated by an international research team. This reorientation resulted in a correction from 400,000 years to 200,000 years, which has had a profound impact on the entire dating of hunting practices at the time. As the Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz reports, previous age estimates are based on less precise layer analyses, while the current findings were secured by a refined amino acid racemization process.

The research and documentation of the Schöninger spears took place in a unique, airtight hunting camp that was 10 meters below the water level until the groundwater level dropped. These ideal preservation conditions have made it possible for 20 to 25 hunting weapons to be handed down, including up to ten spears up to 2.5 meters long. The findings were described in detail in a recent publication in the journal Science Advances.

The significance of the finds

One of the most remarkable discoveries in Schöningen is the strategic hunting of horses. In total, over 50 horses were killed, which indicates highly specialized hunting strategies of the residents at the time. These findings underline not only the abilities of Neanderthals, but also the high quality of human cooperation and organization 200,000 years ago. It is noteworthy that the finds in Schöningen are classified in the Middle Paleolithic and the early Neanderthal period, which makes them a key to our understanding of human behavioral evolution.

The research is considered “experimental” and “controversial” by some experts. Critics, such as Thomas Terberger and Jutta Winsemann, are skeptical about the weaknesses in the geological deposition model, while others, such as Tobias Lauer, consider the methodology useful but emphasize that calibration of the data is essential. Despite these discussions, it remains to be seen that the Schöningen spears are the oldest completely preserved hunting weapons in the world.

The Paleon: A Window into the Stone Age

The “palaeon” research museum, opened in 2013, serves as a landmark for these significant finds. Designed by a Zurich architectural firm, the futuristic building fascinates visitors with its extensive offering. In addition to the Schöninger spears, the museum also shows other extinct animal species, such as saber-toothed cats and forest elephants. A special feature is the almost complete skeleton of a forest elephant, which was discovered in 2017.

The museum not only offers tours of the excavation site, but also covers important topics such as climate change and geological changes. The tours can be organized for groups of up to 25 people, with admission for adults being 9 euros (reduced 6 euros). Opening times vary depending on the season, and a café and a bistro provide meals for guests.

Overall, the ensemble of historical finds and modern museum illustrates how Schöningen is important not only in regional but also in global archaeology. The region attracts numerous visitors who want to learn more about the very early hunting practices and social structures of people 200,000 years ago. Loud presse.uni-mainz.de and buskompass.de Schöningen may even achieve world cultural heritage status in the future.

The site is not only a look back at humanity's past, but also a living part of research into human evolution and the understanding of our ancestors.