A 72-centimeter boomerang, expertly carved from mammoth tusk, was discovered by anthropologists in the Obłazowa Cave in southern Poland. Radiocarbon dating revealed that the artifact dates back between 42,290 and 39,280 years, making it one of the earliest hunting tools used by Homo sapiens.
Unlike traditional wooden boomerangs, this prehistoric hunting weapon was designed as a non-returning boomerang. It was optimized for throwing accuracy rather than aerodynamic return. Its large size and curvature showcase the advanced skills of Late Pleistocene craftsmen. Wear analysis indicated that this weapon was predominantly used by right-handed individuals.
The boomerang was found alongside a human phalanx. Genetic and morphological analysis confirmed that it belonged to a member of Homo sapiens.
Decorative features of the boomerang, such as shell pendants and bone beads, suggest it may have held symbolic or ritual significance.
This discovery challenges the long-held belief that boomerangs and other throwing tools were unique to Australian Aboriginal peoples or later Egyptian communities. Researchers have now demonstrated that early Homo sapiens in Europe developed complex hunting technologies as far back as 40,000 years ago. Isotopic analysis of animal remains found in the Obłazowa Cave revealed a diverse diet that included meat from deer, horses, and aurochs, as reported by Arkeonews. This diet was adapted to the cold steppe conditions that prevailed in the region at that time.
The mammoth bone boomerang illustrates that Homo sapiens in Europe possessed advanced technological skills during the Upper Paleolithic. The artifact provides a rare glimpse into the cognitive and adaptive abilities of our ancestors during a pivotal era of human evolution.
The absence of carving debris in the cave suggests that the boomerang was likely crafted elsewhere and later brought to the Obłazowa Cave.
The discovery of this ancient boomerang highlights the complexity of Upper Paleolithic hunting tools and supports the theory that early Homo sapiens in Europe developed technological innovations independently from other regions of the planet.