A hunting kit dating back 6,000 years was uncovered in the San Esteban Rockshelter cave system in West Texas. Archaeologists from the Center for Big Bend Studies and the Odyssey Archaeological Research Fund at the University of Kansas recovered what might be the oldest intact weapon system found in North America. The cache included a straight‐flying boomerang, four damaged dart nock ends, six stone‐tipped foreshafts used to join darts with an atlatl, and four hardwood foreshafts that likely delivered poison.
Researchers recovered nearly every piece of the ancient projectile system and reconstructed the likely appearance of the darts. A partial atlatl was also found, although the proximal handle end was missing. “We’re also missing the proximal handle end of the atlatl, but we know enough about this type to reconstruct what it may have looked like,” said Devin Pettigrew, a weapons expert and assistant professor at the Center for Big Bend Studies, in a report by Hindustan Times.
The kit was discovered in a damaged state even though many components remained well preserved. The cache yielded clues about its custodians, including human feces and a folded, tanned pronghorn hide with its original hair. The hide’s perimeter showed spaces and holes where it had been tied to a frame for softening—a method common among Plains native groups—and experts noted that it began losing hair shortly after its discovery.
An air of awe settled over the team as they examined the artifacts. “We just sat there and stared at it in wonder. That’s a moment in time. It’s akin to holding dish gloves that somebody put over the sink after doing the dishes. Somebody folded that hide up and sat that right on top of this rock, and nobody touched it for 6,000 years,” said Pettigrew, in a report by Texas Parks and Wildlife Magazine.
Other items in the cache spurred discussion about both practical and symbolic uses. Researchers noted that the broken dart pieces—which fit at the end of the atlatl—and the arrangement of other weapon parts raised questions about a possible spiritual context. “Interpretations like this, based on more recent cultures, are more difficult the further back in time you go,” said Pettigrew, in a report by Greek Reporter.
Close study revealed details of the projectile weapon system. “The nock ends of the darts fit against the atlatl spur; the dart flexed when thrown to maintain straight flight,” said Louie Bond of Texas Parks and Wildlife Magazine. He continued, “The dart foreshafts fit into sockets or sleeves in the end of a dart main shaft.” These technical observations helped researchers map how the ancient peoples interacted with their environment and understand the mechanics of early hunting practices.
Director Bryon Schroeder of the Center for Big Bend Studies described the find as “monumental” and noted that it would help modern understanding of early human life in Big Bend. He recalled that the discovery unfolded gradually. “This is good. This is not good. I need to remake this leather pouch a little bit,” said Schroeder, in a report by The Travel. Schroeder later reflected, “We get these incredible snapshots of life, vignettes of how they lived, what the environment was and how they responded to it,” said Schroeder, in a report by The Travel. He also noted, “But that one small act is going to have profound implications in understanding a wide range of topics, including the environment,” said Schroeder, in a report by Hindustan Times.
The article was written with the assistance of a news analysis system.