Archery’s emergence in the Americas and its societal impacts have long intrigued anthropologists and archaeologists. Shedding new light on this debate, a study led by a University of California, Davis anthropologist, recently published in Quaternary International, offers fresh insights.
Concentrating on the Lake Titicaca Basin nestled in the Andes, researchers analyzed 1,179 projectile points, pinpointing the rise of archery technology around 5,000 years ago. This contradicts prior assumptions placing the emergence of Andean archery at about 3,000 years ago.
This shift in perspective suggests that the adoption of bow-and-arrow technology coincided with the expansion of trade networks and the trend towards village settlement.
Luis Flores-Blanco, a doctoral student in anthropology and the study’s lead author, emphasized its significance in understanding societal evolution in the Andes over ancient times. The study stands out for its comprehensive analysis of stone tools, which typically receive less attention in investigations of social complexity compared to monumental architecture and ceramics.
The research delved into projectile points spanning 10,000 years, originating from the Lake Titicaca Basin’s Ilave and Ramis valleys. Situated at a lofty elevation of 12,500 feet, Lake Titicaca and its environs played a pivotal role in human history, witnessing the domestication of vital crops like potatoes and serving as a nucleus for civilizations like the Tiwanaku and the Inca Empire.
Analyzing the projectile points’ characteristics, the researchers noted a transition from larger, older points associated with spear-throwing to smaller ones around 5,000 years ago, indicative of the shift to bow-and-arrow technology while retaining older methods.
Comparing projectile data with settlement patterns, raw material availability, and cranial trauma records revealed intriguing trends. During the Terminal Archaic period, settlements grew larger, but their numbers declined, and instances of social violence decreased despite access to diverse raw materials.
Flores-Blanco suggested that the adoption of bow-and-arrow technology may have facilitated the adherence to emerging social norms, contributing to the development of new social institutions and the cohesion of expanding villages.
The study’s co-authors include Lucero Cuellar from the National University of San Marcos, Mark Aldenderfer from UC Merced, Charles Stanish from the University of South Florida, and Randall Haas from the University of Wyoming, formerly affiliated with UC Davis.
Source: UC Davis