Archaeologists have unearthed a 4,000-year-old human rib bone with a flint arrowhead still embedded in it from the Roc de les Orenetes site in northeastern Spain. This rare find provides direct evidence of interpersonal violence during the Early Bronze Age.
The rib, discovered during excavations led by Dr. Carlos Tornero of the Autonomous University of Barcelona, shows clear signs of healing around the arrowhead, indicating the individual survived the attack, believed to have been delivered from behind. This survival and subsequent healing process offer a unique insight into ancient conflict and the body's resilience.
The Roc de les Orenetes site has yielded over a thousand human bones dating back 4,100 to 4,500 years. Research published in 2024 by bioarchaeologist Miguel Ángel Moreno and colleagues identified evidence of interpersonal violence in at least six of the 51 individuals excavated, suggesting conflict was a recurring aspect of life for these mountain communities.
Further scientific analyses, including X-ray microtomography and DNA testing, are underway on the newly discovered rib. These techniques aim to provide deeper insights into the nature of the ancient injury, the weapon used, and the individual's survival and healing processes, contributing to a broader understanding of the health, social dynamics, and challenges faced by these early Pyrenean inhabitants.
This discovery complements other archaeological finds, such as an ancient quartzite-tipped arrow found in Norway, estimated to be up to 3,000 years old and likely used by reindeer hunters. Such discoveries collectively highlight the pervasive nature of conflict and the ingenuity of ancient peoples in their use of tools for both survival and aggression.
The Roc de les Orenetes site, situated at an altitude of over 1,800 meters, demonstrates that even remote highland communities were not immune to social complexities, including violence. The robust skeletal remains suggest a population adapted to a physically demanding lifestyle, further emphasizing their resilience in a challenging environment and challenging earlier assumptions about peaceful prehistoric societies.