Prehistoric Man Killed by Quartz Arrow Found in Vietnam

In 2018, archaeologists exploring cave systems in Vietnam discovered the well-preserved remains of an ancient human that may indicate the oldest violent death in history.

Modern studies of the remains, which are over 12,000 years old, have established that the man was struck by an unusual quartz point and that his death was not instantaneous. According to scientists, the victim survived the initial injury, but died later due to an infection.

If the injury is confirmed to be not an accident, the discovery could be the oldest evidence of interpersonal conflict in the region.

During the late Pleistocene, about 12,000 years ago, a 35-year-old man was stabbed by a quartz blade. However, it turns out that the event was not immediately fatal. According to a study published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B , the individual, designated TBH1, survived for several months after the injury.

The remains of TBH1 were first discovered in 2018 in the Trang An cave complex in northern Vietnam. Buried in a fetal position, the man covered his face with his hands.

Initial examination showed that he had not suffered from any serious illnesses before his death. However, further research revealed new details.

The first mystery was the extra cervical rib, a congenital feature found in less than 1% of the population. The bone anomaly was damaged.

The oddities didn't end there. Signs of infection in the damaged bone included a crack that could have released pus, suggesting the individual died of septic complications.

A triangular fragment of quartz measuring 1.8 cm (0.72 in) with characteristic serrations similar to arrowheads or spearheads was found near the injured rib.

“This is of particular interest,” study co-author Benjamin Utting said in a commentary for the Natural History Museum. “The artifact does not match other stone tools from Thung Bunh 1 or nearby sites, raising questions about its origin.”