Professor Chris Stringer

You've got to be able to make the bow and the right sort of strength and size. You've also got to make your arrow shafts in maybe the same wood or a different wood. You've got to make your string for the bow out of animal or plant tissue. And that's a complex task. And you've got to mount, of course, quite a light projectile head on the end of the arrow to make it effective.

You've got to be able to make the bow and the right sort of strength and size. You've also got to make your arrow shafts in maybe the same wood or a different wood. You've got to make your string for the bow out of animal or plant tissue. And that's a complex task. And you've got to mount, of course, quite a light projectile head on the end of the arrow to make it effective.

So it looks like bows and arrows were being used at least by some early Homo sapiens groups. And that enables you, of course, to do killing at a distance, which is a lot less dangerous than having to get close to your prey. It's thought that in many cases Neanderthals were what's called confrontational hunters.

So it looks like bows and arrows were being used at least by some early Homo sapiens groups. And that enables you, of course, to do killing at a distance, which is a lot less dangerous than having to get close to your prey. It's thought that in many cases Neanderthals were what's called confrontational hunters.

So it looks like bows and arrows were being used at least by some early Homo sapiens groups. And that enables you, of course, to do killing at a distance, which is a lot less dangerous than having to get close to your prey. It's thought that in many cases Neanderthals were what's called confrontational hunters.

They were having to get close into their prey, requiring a lot of strength, of course, a lot of courage as well, and then having to stab the prey with a thrusting spear. That's very effective, of course, but it's also more dangerous and it requires a lot more physical strength.

They were having to get close into their prey, requiring a lot of strength, of course, a lot of courage as well, and then having to stab the prey with a thrusting spear. That's very effective, of course, but it's also more dangerous and it requires a lot more physical strength.

They were having to get close into their prey, requiring a lot of strength, of course, a lot of courage as well, and then having to stab the prey with a thrusting spear. That's very effective, of course, but it's also more dangerous and it requires a lot more physical strength.

Well, yes. I mean, there are an increasing number of sites showing this early penetration. So one of the most famous ones recently published is Grotte Mondrain in southern France, in the Rome Valley. And there you've got what's now a rock shelter. It's partly collapsed, but this has a long history of occupation by Neanderthals going back to at least 70,000 years.

Well, yes. I mean, there are an increasing number of sites showing this early penetration. So one of the most famous ones recently published is Grotte Mondrain in southern France, in the Rome Valley. And there you've got what's now a rock shelter. It's partly collapsed, but this has a long history of occupation by Neanderthals going back to at least 70,000 years.

Well, yes. I mean, there are an increasing number of sites showing this early penetration. So one of the most famous ones recently published is Grotte Mondrain in southern France, in the Rome Valley. And there you've got what's now a rock shelter. It's partly collapsed, but this has a long history of occupation by Neanderthals going back to at least 70,000 years.

And the Neanderthals were there most of the time from 70,000 years down to probably 40 or 42,000 years ago when we get the appearance of Homo sapiens. But at about 54,000 years ago, there's one brief occupation by a completely distinctive group based on their technology.

And the Neanderthals were there most of the time from 70,000 years down to probably 40 or 42,000 years ago when we get the appearance of Homo sapiens. But at about 54,000 years ago, there's one brief occupation by a completely distinctive group based on their technology.

And the Neanderthals were there most of the time from 70,000 years down to probably 40 or 42,000 years ago when we get the appearance of Homo sapiens. But at about 54,000 years ago, there's one brief occupation by a completely distinctive group based on their technology.

So they're not making the typical Neanderthal stone tools, which are these quite larger flake tools they're making in this industry. You've got thousands of tiny little points which are interpreted by some people as being arrowheads. And this industry is completely distinct from anything known in Western Europe at the time. It's there briefly, maybe an occupation of less than 100 years.

So they're not making the typical Neanderthal stone tools, which are these quite larger flake tools they're making in this industry. You've got thousands of tiny little points which are interpreted by some people as being arrowheads. And this industry is completely distinct from anything known in Western Europe at the time. It's there briefly, maybe an occupation of less than 100 years.

So they're not making the typical Neanderthal stone tools, which are these quite larger flake tools they're making in this industry. You've got thousands of tiny little points which are interpreted by some people as being arrowheads. And this industry is completely distinct from anything known in Western Europe at the time. It's there briefly, maybe an occupation of less than 100 years.

And there's just one fossil tooth from that level. There are teeth from other levels that show they were Neanderthals. But that one level with this industry called the Neuronian, after a nearby site, this industry is associated with Homo sapiens. There's one tooth, which is a deciduous tooth, a milk tooth, but it's a Homo sapiens child.

And there's just one fossil tooth from that level. There are teeth from other levels that show they were Neanderthals. But that one level with this industry called the Neuronian, after a nearby site, this industry is associated with Homo sapiens. There's one tooth, which is a deciduous tooth, a milk tooth, but it's a Homo sapiens child.

And there's just one fossil tooth from that level. There are teeth from other levels that show they were Neanderthals. But that one level with this industry called the Neuronian, after a nearby site, this industry is associated with Homo sapiens. There's one tooth, which is a deciduous tooth, a milk tooth, but it's a Homo sapiens child.