Earliest evidence of poison projectiles found...

[Maxmars]

Reportedly, another revision to our history is in order...

Scholars had been telling us that from the information they had...
 

... up until now, the earliest direct evidence of poisoned arrows dates back to the mid-Holocene. For instance, scientists found traces of toxic glycoside residues on 4,000-year-old bone-tipped arrows recovered from an Egyptian tomb, as well as on bone arrow points from 6,700 years ago excavated from South Africa’s Kruger Cave. The only prior evidence of using poisons for hunting during the Pleistocene is a “poison applicator” found at Border Cave in South Africa, along with a lump of beeswax.

A new discovery has sent that date backwards some 55,000 years or so... 

In fact, as of now ... humans may have been poisoning their weapons as far back as the Pleistocene era.
 

Archaeologists have now found traces of a plant-based poison on several 60,000-year-old quartz Stone Age arrowheads found in South Africa, according to a new paper published in the journal Science Advances. That would make this the oldest direct evidence of using poisons on projectiles—a cognitively complex hunting strategy—and pushes the timeline for using poison arrows back into the Pleistocene.

I can't imagine the manner in which the knowledge was spread.... or over how wide an area this practice was actually in use... presumably for hunting(?) although there's no telling how long humans have been maliciously hurting each other.

From: These 60,000-year-old poison arrows are oldest yet found 
 

“Finding traces of the same poison on both prehistoric and historical arrowheads was crucial,” said co-author Sven Isaksson of Stockholm University. “By carefully studying the chemical structure of the substances and thus drawing conclusions about their properties, we were able to determine that these particular substances are stable enough to survive this long in the ground. It’s also fascinating that people had such a deep and long-standing understanding of the use of plants.”

[Blackfingers]

Probably well before the last Ice Age.

[andy06shake]

I suppose the first person to dip a spearpoint in fecal matter would tick that box.

How long have spears been around?

About 500,000 years, probably a lot longer...

[Maxmars]

So you have to wonder how that understanding became more than just an observation leading to practiced repetition.

At some point it may have been noticing certain wounds, leading to certain outcomes which were remarkable.  Or, as suggested, the idea of 'soiling' the weapon to guarantee a kill.

But it seems weird that a hunter would do that to his or her "food."  
How could it be determined that the poison wasn't 'now' in the remains to be eaten.

I know, it's all speculation... and rather removed from any manner of evidentiary support.
But just as question of supposition, how could treating a weapon lead to refinement as we see later, in very specialized and particular use?

Trail and error?  Amassed observational accounts? 

(I'm just thinking out loud here... try not to laugh too hard.  )

[argentus]

A new discovery has sent that date backwards some 55,000 years or so... 

In fact, as of now ... humans may have been poisoning their weapons as far back as the Pleistocene era.
 
I can't imagine the manner in which the knowledge was spread.... or over how wide an area this practice was actually in use... presumably for hunting(?) although there's no telling how long humans have been maliciously hurting each other.
 

Thank you for this!   I am not surprised of the dating reflecting 55,000 y.o.    I think humans have been seeking improved ways of injuring/killing each other since the epoch in which humans are currently classified as "human", and certainly before them.   That is what animals do;  they live communally toward the benefit of their other members, and war with other communities for territory or resources or cultural differences.  

The only exception seems to be [some of]  the poor, lonely sharks, and the Black Widow spider, in which the female mates and then consumes the male, choosing to spend the rest of her days capturing other animals for her own nourishment.    ...   ....  j..just as God intended.

[andy06shake]

But it seems weird that a hunter would do that to his or her "food."  
How could it be determined that the poison wasn't 'now' in the remains to be eaten.

I think cooking the meat reduces risk.

And/or not consuming the flesh near the initial wound.

But yeah, you're calling it with trial and error...monkey see, monkey do.

[Hanslune]

The earliest known arrowheads date to approximately 78,000 BCE, based on tiny stone points discovered in the Obi-Rakhmat rock shelter in Uzbekistan, with findings (reported in 2025). Previously, the oldest evidence was identified as 62,000 to 72,000 BCE stone points from Sibudu Cave, in South Africa

[Maxmars]

The earliest known arrowheads date to approximately 78,000 BCE, based on tiny stone points discovered in the Obi-Rakhmat rock shelter in Uzbekistan, with findings (reported in 2025). Previously, the oldest evidence was identified as 62,000 to 72,000 BCE stone points from Sibudu Cave, in South Africa

I guess it can be deduced that it may have taken roughly 10,000 years of arrow use, before any evidence of "toxic" treatment of arrow tips was discovered?

I wonder about where the most likely region to first actually take on the technological advancement... as a 'taught' practice?