What was the first spear?

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Spear manufacture and use is not confined to humans. It is also practiced by the western chimpanzee. Chimpanzees near Kédougou, Senegal have been observed to create spears by breaking straight limbs off trees, stripping them of their bark and side branches, and sharpening one end with their teeth. They then used the weapons to hunt galagos sleeping in hollows.[1]

Spear-armed hoplite from Greco-Persian Wars

References[edit | edit source]

  1. Pruetz, Jill D.; Bertolani, Paco (2007). "Savanna Chimpanzees, Pan troglodytes verus, Hunt with Tools". Current Biology 17 (5): 412–417. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2006.12.042. PMID 17320393.