Ancient toxins: 60,000-year-old poisoned arrows reveal startling prehistoric ingenuity Scientists have confirmed that 60,000-year-old stone arrowheads from a South African rock shelter were coated with a plant-based poison, representing the oldest direct evidence of poisoned weaponry ever found. Advanced chemical analysis detected toxic compounds from the Boophone disticha plant on the artifacts, a definitive signature of human application and not a natural occurrence. The use of a slow-acting, debilitating poison indicates a “persistence hunt” strategy, where hunters tracked wounded prey over time, showcasing advanced planning and cognitive abilities. The discovery explains the purpose of very small stone points from this…

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