6,500-Year-Old Hunting Gear Unearthed in a West Texas Cave

MARFA, Texas - Several ancient objects were recently unearthed by the Center for Big Bend Studies from a cave in West Texas. Archaeologists describe the items as "pristinely preserved" hunting tools that date back 6,500 years.

They may even prove to be the oldest nearly-intact kit of weapons ever found in North America. Pretty spiffy, huh?

Texas Parks & Wildlife Magazine reported this incredible discovery was made on an archeological dig site in the Big Bend area, and is essentially comprised of what would have been considered, at the time, rather mundane items, likely left behind by an Indigenous hunter sprucing up broken and old components from his hunting gear in a cave by firelight.

The findings include a full weapon system in exquisite condition that archeologists will be able to use to determine the amount of time spent working on tools and more about the environment in which they were utilized.

Here's what was found in the ancient kit:

• 1 Straight flying boomerang: One of the oldest lethal weapons ever discovered.
• 4 hardwood foreshafts: They could have been used for poison delivery
• 1 Partial atlatl or spear-thrower: This weapon was considered the oldest in North America until a slightly older atlatl was discovered.
• 4 dark nock ends: 
• 6 stone-tipped foreshafts

These incredible findings in Big Bend have archeaologists delighted and excited to head down every new rabbit hole they come across based on what they can infer from this ancient hunting kit alone.

To check out photos from this recent find, click here.

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