According to 2012 research on spear points excavated by Peter Beaumont at Kathu Pan 1, South Africa in 1979-1982, which remain arguably the earliest stone-tipped spears yet found, people began hunting with stone-tipped spears about 500,000 years ago. Prior to 2012 it was thought that attaching a stone tip to a spear, known as "hafting," started about 300,000 years ago.
"Hafting stone points to spears was an important advance in weaponry for early humans. Multiple lines of evidence indicate that ~500,000-year-old stone points from the archaeological site of Kathu Pan 1 (KP1), South Africa, functioned as spear tips. KP1 points exhibit fracture types diagnostic of impact. Modification near the base of some points is consistent with hafting. Experimental and metric data indicate that the points could function well as spear tips. Shape analysis demonstrates that the smaller retouched points are as symmetrical as larger retouched points, which fits expectations for spear tips. The distribution of edge damage is similar to that in an experimental sample of spear tips and is inconsistent with expectations for cutting or scraping tools" (Jayne Wilkins, Benjamin J. Schoville, Kyle S. Brown, Michael Chazan, "Evidence for Early Hafted Hunting Technology," Science 16 November 2012: Vol. 338 no. 6109 pp. 942-946 DOI: 10.1126/science.1227608)
"However, by comparing the wear visible on 500,000-year-old stone points found in South Africa with modern experimental points fired by a specially calibrated crossbow at a springbok carcass, scientists proved they had been used as spear tips for hunting. Leader author Jayne Wilkins, a PhD candidate in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Toronto in Canada, said the research suggested stone-tipped spears could have been in use before the divergence of early humans and Neanderthals. She said: "This changes the way we think about early human adaptations and capacities before the origin of our own species.
"Although both Neanderthals and humans used stone-tipped spears, this is the first evidence that the technology originated prior to or near the divergence of these two species."
"Attaching stone points to spears was an important advance in hunting weaponry for early humans. Hafted tools require more effort and planning to manufacture, but a sharp stone point on the end of a spear can increase its killing power. Hafted spear tips are common in Stone Age archaeological sites after 300,000 years ago" (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/science-news/9682459/Man-hunted-with-spears-half-a-million-years-ago.html, accessed 11-16-2012).
Kulingana na utafiti wa 2012 uliofanywa na Peter Beaumont huko Kathu Pan, Afrika Kusini, watu walianza kuwinda kwa kutumia mikuki yenye ncha za mawe miaka 500,000 iliyopita. "Kabla ya mwaka 2012, ilidhaniwa kwamba kuunganisha ncha ya jiwe kwenye mkuki, inayojulikana kama ""hafting,"" ilianza miaka 300,000 iliyopita." "Kushikamana kwa ncha za mawe na mikuki kulikuwa maendeleo muhimu katika silaha kwa wanadamu wa mapema. "Kuna ushahidi unaoonyesha kwamba ""mawe ya miaka 500,000"" kutoka eneo la akiolojia la Kathu Pan 1 (KP1) nchini Afrika Kusini yalitumika kama ncha za mikuki." Kipengele cha K1 kinaonyesha aina ya kuvunjika kwa mgongano. Marekebisho karibu na msingi wa baadhi ya pointi ni sambamba na hafting. Takwimu za majaribio na za kipimo zinaonyesha kwamba ncha hizo zaweza kutumika vizuri kama ncha za mikuki. Uchambuzi wa umbo unaonyesha kwamba pointi ndogo zilizorekebishwa ni sawa na pointi kubwa zilizorekebishwa, ambayo inalingana na matarajio ya ncha za mkuki. "Ugawanyiko wa uharibifu wa makali ni sawa na ule katika sampuli ya majaribio ya ncha za mkuki na haipatani na matarajio ya vifaa vya kukata au kukata "" (Jayne Wilkins, Benjamin J. Schoville, Kyle S. Brown, Michael Chazan, ""Uhakika wa Teknolojia ya Kuwinda ya Haughty,"" Sayansi 16 Novemba 2012 Vol." 338 - Hapana (Soma pia: Sura ya 669 ya kitabu cha Biblia cha Mathayo.) "Kama ilivyoelezwa katika makala ya kwanza ya jarida la ""Science and Geology"" (D.O.I. 101261212760), kwa kulinganisha vipande vya mawe vya miaka 500,000 vilivyopatikana Afrika Kusini na vipande vya majaribio ya kisasa vilivyopigwa risasi na upinde wa mti uliopangwa kwa njia ya kipekee kwenye mnyama wa aina ya springbok, wanasayansi walithibitisha kwamba vipande hivyo vilitumiwa kama ncha za mikuki." Jayne Wilkins, mwanafunzi wa PhD katika Idara ya Anthropolojia katika Chuo Kikuu cha Toronto, Canada, alisema utafiti huo unaonyesha kwamba mikuki yenye ncha za mawe inaweza kuwa ilitumiwa kabla ya kutofautiana kwa wanadamu wa mapema na Neanderthal. "Kama ilivyoelezwa hapo juu, ""Hii inabadilisha njia tunayofikiria juu ya marekebisho ya mapema ya binadamu na uwezo kabla ya asili ya spishi yetu.""" "Ijapokuwa Neanderthal na wanadamu walitumia mikuki yenye ncha za mawe, hii ni uthibitisho wa kwanza kwamba teknolojia hiyo ilitokana na kabla au karibu na kutofautiana kwa spishi hizi mbili.""" "Kuunganisha ncha za mawe kwenye mikuki kulikuwa maendeleo muhimu katika silaha za kuwinda za wanadamu wa mapema. Vifaa vya kutengeneza silaha vinavyoitwa hafted vinahitaji jitihada na mipango zaidi, lakini ncha kali ya jiwe kwenye ncha ya mkuki inaweza kuongeza nguvu yake ya kuua. "Kama vile ilivyotarajiwa, nyundo za mkuki zilikuwa zimepatikana katika maeneo ya kale ya enzi ya mawe baada ya miaka 300,000 iliyopita, "" (http: www.telegraph.co.uk) (science.science-news.com) (http: www.science-news.com) (http: man-hunted-with-spears-half-a-million-years-ago) (http: www.science-news.com) "