Assessment Questions 4.5

1. Describe the characteristics of the wooden spears found at Schöningen.

The wooden spears were made from saplings (ten spruce, one pine). The spear tips were crafted from the harder, denser wood at the base of the tree and sharpened. The spears were front-loaded in terms of weight, resembling a modern javelin in balance. Experimental replicas showed that the spears could be thrown accurately at targets up to 35 meters away.

2. How does the preservation at Schöningen contribute to understanding Homo erectus hunting practices?

The remarkable organic preservation at Schöningen allowed researchers to determine the animals hunted with the spears. The site revealed that horses, often associated with other purposes, were part of the diet of Homo erectus at Schöningen.

3. Provide evidence of Homo erectus utilizing resources other than meat in their diet.

At the 800,000-year-old Gesher Benot Ya'aqov site in Israel, evidence indicates that Homo erectus consumed more than meat. Chunks of stone with peculiar pitting were found, and experimental replication suggested these were used as hammers to break open nuts. Organic preservation at the site allowed the recovery of remains of seven plant species producing hard-shelled edible seeds or nuts that required hard hammering to access their kernels.