The Evolution of Military Technology THE EARLIEST WEAPONS OF WAR Evidence has been found of brutal killings among hunter-gatherer groups ten thousand years ago using Stone Age weapons Since most early societ ies were small and relatively isolated however little evidence of large-scale warfare exists from that time The first war recorded in written history was fought in 2700 BCE between Sumer and Elam in Mesopo tamia Sumer won and took the weapons of Elam There is ample evidence however via pictographs and archaeological finds that wars between large armies were fought as early as 3500 BCE The first Stone Age weapons were rocks bones sticks and antlers followed eventually by the devel opment of slingshots and spears javelins Rocks would be used for bludgeoning prey or an enemy or for breaking up the bones of a carcass to get at the marrow inside Rocks also became the first missiles or range weapons capable of striking an enemy or prey at a distance Spears were later cre ated to inflict far greater damage especially when they were thrown with an atlatl a tool that increased the accuracy and force of the throw 8
These prehistoric arrowheads and knives were recovered in Dragsholm Denmark 9
The Evolution of Military Technology Stone tools including stone weapons were first used millions of years ago People could find the raw materials they needed in a variety of loca tions and they could quickly master the skill needed to make stone blades and points Initially simple blades and tips were made by striking one stone against another Spear tips and axes became more sophisticated over the eons as people used bone or rock to flake away pieces from flint rocks which broke off into pieces with sharp edges It took some skill to get the shapes edges and points needed for piercing thick animal hides The earliest Stone Age weapon developed spe cifically for warfare was the mace a large stone shaped to the hand and used as a bludgeon to smash bone In time people mastered the difficult task of attaching the stone to a wooden handle to increase the strength velocity and thus the effectiveness of the assault Some maces and clubs were lined with razor-sharp obsidian glass shards which were capable of cutting through leather sinews and mus cle However sharp stones like these could shatter if they struck a rock surface or a metal shield The sling was an early weapon that required some skill to use effectively It was basically a pair 10
Military Technology in the Prehistoric World of loops with a pouch on the end holding a stone The user would hold the loops and swing the pouch with the stone to gain momentum The trick was letting go of one of the loops so that the stone was thrown at the highest velocity in the correct direction Though an effective weapon for hunting or war the sling required significant train ing and practice Eventually primitive bows and arrows with flint tips were developed The earliest arrowheads that have been found date back to sixty thou sand years ago A simple bow made from a single piece of wood is clearly depicted in cave paintings of 30,000 BCE This Stone Age mace or hammer was an early weapon 11
