Detail map of Orientale, Democratic Republic of the Congo Overview map of Orientale, Democratic Republic of the Congo

A: Orientale, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Katanda Bone Harpoon Point

88000 to 78000 BCE

In 1988 Allison Brooks and John Yellin discovered a bone harpoon point in Katanda, Democratic Republic of Congo.

"Humans in Central Africa used some of the earliest barbed points, like this harpoon point, to spear huge prehistoric catfish weighing as much as 68 kg (150 lb)–enough to feed 80 people for two days. Later, humans used harpoons to hunt large, fast marine mammals" (http://humanorigins.si.edu/evidence/behavior/katanda-bone-harpoon-point, accessed 0510-2010)

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