Ice Age Humans Crafted The Oldest Known European Boomerang From Mammoth Ivory

BOLOGNA, Italy — Scientists have discovered what may be one of the oldest boomerangs in the world, hidden in a Polish cave for tens of thousands of years. The mammoth ivory artifact, found alongside human remains, could date back as far as 42,000 years ago, making it significantly older than previously known examples of this hunting tool.

The discovery at Obłazowa Cave in southern Poland is forcing researchers to rethink the timeline of human technological advancement during the early stages of modern human expansion into Europe. While boomerangs are typically associated with Aboriginal Australians, this find suggests that early Europeans were independently developing similar complex throwing weapons during the harsh Ice Age.

According to the international research team’s analysis, published in PLOS ONE, this mammoth-ivory boomerang represents one of Europe’s oldest known examples of such a complex tool, with dating placing it between approximately 42,000 and 39,000 years ago.

Creating a functional boomerang requires an advanced understanding of aerodynamics, precise craftsmanship, and significant time investment, suggesting these Ice Age Europeans possessed problem-solving skills and possibly symbolic thinking.

The 72-centimeter-long (about 28 inches) curved implement was crafted from a mammoth tusk and shows clear signs of intentional human modification. Researchers found evidence of careful shaping, polishing, and even decorative markings, including traces of red pigment. Experimental work has demonstrated its capability to fly as a non-returning boomerang.

Archaeologists found a human thumb bone near the boomerang, along with various ornaments including a fossil shell, bone beads, and pendants made from arctic fox teeth. The artifacts may have been part of a deliberate burial or ritual, hinting at symbolic behavior among these early Europeans.

The Ancient Timeline

Researchers from the University of Bologna and multiple international institutions used radiocarbon dating and Bayesian statistical modeling to pinpoint the age of the artifacts. Although the boomerang itself could not be directly dated, due to contamination from conservation materials, its age was inferred based on 13 radiocarbon-dated animal bones and a human thumb bone found in the same archaeological layer.

Their analysis revealed that the main occupation of the cave occurred between 42,810 and 38,550 years ago, with the boomerang most likely dating to between 42,290 and 39,280 years ago. This timeline places the artifact firmly within the Early Aurignacian period, when modern humans were rapidly expanding across Europe and developing increasingly sophisticated technologies.

The dating predates other known European boomerangs by tens of thousands of years. The next oldest European example comes from Jutland and dates to only about 7,000 years ago, while the oldest known wooden boomerangs from Australia date to between 10,200 and 8,990 years ago.

DNA analysis of the human thumb bone confirmed it belonged to a modern human rather than a Neanderthal, settling questions about which species created this sophisticated tool. Despite some contamination from modern sources, researchers were able to extract enough genetic material to confirm its human origin.

Harsh Climate Didn’t Stop Human Innovation

The boomerang was crafted during a period of extreme climatic variability, including both harsh glacial conditions and brief warming periods. Rather than simply surviving, these early humans were thriving and innovating despite the challenging Ice Age environment. Humans seemed to have lived there across a range of climatic conditions, not just during favorable warm periods.

Stable isotope analysis of the human remains suggests these people had a diverse diet that may have included freshwater fish, indicating sophisticated hunting and gathering strategies. Animal remains found in the cave—including reindeer, horses, and musk oxen—show these humans were successfully hunting large game in the tundra-steppe environment.

Since no ivory fragments were found at the site, the boomerang was likely crafted elsewhere and transported to the cave. Creating such a tool would have required considerable skill and time, as the mammoth tusk had to be carefully thinned and shaped to achieve the proper aerodynamic properties.

Researchers noted that the choice to use ivory for this boomerang is unique, since similar artifacts are typically made of wood, which rarely survives in the archaeological record. The deliberate selection of durable ivory over more readily available materials suggests this wasn’t just a utilitarian tool but possibly held cultural or symbolic importance.

Human Cognitive Evolution

This discovery adds to growing evidence that early modern humans possessed higher-level cognitive abilities much earlier than previously thought. Creating a functional boomerang requires understanding of complex physics principles, even if not up to par with modern scientific terms.

Some researchers have proposed that the human remains and boomerang may have been part of a shamanistic ritual, drawing parallels to rock art from other regions showing human hands with missing digits.

Archaeological evidence indicates these Ice Age Europeans had extensive trade networks, importing materials from hundreds of kilometers away. From an economic perspective, creating and transporting such a sizable object would have been a unique commitment for nomadic Ice Age peoples. Since the boomerang was crafted elsewhere and carried to Obłazowa Cave, it must have held special status, whether as a valuable hunting tool, ceremonial object, or symbol of group identity.

Research indicates that the inhabitants of Obłazowa Cave ranged over vast territories and potentially interacted with other groups. However, the high production cost and specialized knowledge required to create such a tool may have limited its replication, preserving it as a distinct innovation unique to the region. If not for the unusual choice to craft this boomerang from durable mammoth ivory, this evidence of early human ingenuity would have been lost forever.