Scientists have found evidence of systematic production of slingstones in the Levant region, the oldest evidence of warfare in the region, dating back 7,200 years.
Nov 23, 2023 9:52 p.m
(updated on November 24th, 2023 at 8:31 a.m.)
Scientists have found evidence of the oldest standardized weapons factory in the Levant region, which dates back to between the Late Neolithic and the Early Chalcolithic, i.e. between 5,800 and 4,500 BC. Hundreds of stone projectiles from two different archaeological sites now located in Israel territory. Analysis revealed that they were massproduced and probably armed large numbers of warriors in preparation for battle around 7,200 years ago.
Photo: Emil Aladjem/Israel Antiquities Authority / Canaltech
The stones were used in slingshots, ancient weapons made of leather and rope that use kinetic energy to fire projectiles at enemies at great speeds. In the ancient settlements of ‘En Esur and ‘En Zippori, which existed between 5800 and 4500 BC. 424 slingstones were found. The munitions were virtually identical in their verticality, suggesting that they had been manufactured using a specific pattern.
 
The objects are on average 52 mm long and 31 mm wide and weigh about 60 grams. They were smoothed and given a very special biconical aerodynamic shape, which allowed them to be thrown effectively and precisely. This format was considered the most optimized for slingshots and was later adopted by the Greek and Roman armies. The information comes from the Israel Antiquities Authority, which issued a statement and published a study on the subject.
Ancient Weapons and Factories of the Levant
In addition to the novelty of mass production, the stones represent the oldest evidence of the practice of warfare in the southern Levant. The systematic production of signals for use by standardized users or warriors equipped with slingshots enabled an effective and probably standardized one, according to the scientists Training. The shift from naturally occurring stones to formal munitions optimization indicates the spread of organized warfare in the early Copper Age.
This is reinforced by the increasing size of southern Levantine settlements at this time, with remains of monumental public buildings at ‘En Zippori and ‘En Esur. This suggests a stratification of society that would have been involved in interregional or international trade exchanges and possible conflict.
Sling stones found at ‘En Zippori in the Levant point to the first major wars in the region, dating back to the Copper Age (Image: Gil Haklay/Israel Antiquities Authority)
Photo: Canaltech
Because they were found in numerous groups, the slingstones also give us some clues as to how they were used their arrangement suggests that they were thrown en masse, with handfuls of projectiles being a type of “barrier munition.” , which was fired by a group of slingshots, that is, generating a constant rain of stones at enemies. According to the researchers, this could lead to the collapse of the enemy army’s formation.
Interestingly, about a thousand years later, the remains of massproduced weapons suddenly disappear from the archaeological record. However, it is unknown whether this represents a decline in regional hostilities.
Source: ATIQOT
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