World's oldest boomerang doesn't actually come back
Summary
The world's oldest known boomerang was found in a cave in Poland and is now thought to be 40,000 years old. Made from a mammoth tusk, it would not have returned when thrown and was likely used for hunting or rituals. Researchers used new dating techniques to determine its age, providing insights into ancient human craftsmanship.Key Facts
- The boomerang was discovered in Oblazowa Cave in southern Poland in 1985.
- It is made from mammoth ivory and is about the size of a baseball bat.
- New radiocarbon dating shows it is between 39,000 and 42,000 years old.
- The boomerang would have flown but not returned to the thrower.
- It might have been used for hunting or in cultural rituals.
- It shows evidence of polishing and carving, indicating skilled craftsmanship.
- The study involved researchers from Poland, Italy, Germany, France, Switzerland, and the UK and was published in the journal PLOS One.
- Boomerangs have been used in various cultures globally, with the oldest known from Australia dating back 10,500 years ago.
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