For several years, the San Esteban site in Texas has attracted researchers’ attention because of its potential. The good news is that recent excavations have marked an important step forward in understanding the history of North America.
In the collective imagination, Texas is mainly associated with vast open landscapes, ranches and the modern history of the American West. Yet long before that era, the region was already home to populations capable of developing advanced hunting techniques. In the south of the state, near the Mexican border, archaeologists have uncovered a collection of prehistoric objects in the San Esteban cave, located in Big Bend National Park.
San Esteban: a cave preserving traces of the region’s earliest inhabitants
Located in Big Bend National Park in southern Texas, close to the Rio Grande, the San Esteban site lies in a remote and little-visited area. This arid and protected environment provides ideal conditions for preserving ancient remains.
Since 2019, teams from the Center for Big Bend Studies and the University of Kansas have carried out regular excavation campaigns there. From the very first digs, several objects were identified. However, it was the discovery of a genuine cache of weapons, reported by LiveScience, that particularly caught researchers’ attention. These items had been grouped together and carefully preserved, suggesting organised use rather than simple abandonment.
Hunting techniques more sophisticated than they appear
Among the objects recovered were fragments of wood, stone points and pieces of leather. Some of the assemblages correspond to weapons fitted with spear-throwers known as 'atlatls'. This system allowed hunters to increase both the range and accuracy of their projectiles.
Lighter than traditional spears, these tools could hit a target several dozen metres away. Their effectiveness relied not only on skilled craftsmanship and knowledge of materials, but also on a detailed understanding of the surrounding environment.
Other objects have also intrigued researchers. Certain slightly curved wooden pieces resemble straight boomerangs. Contrary to the popular image, these weapons did not return to the thrower. Instead, they were used to strike or disorientate animals, particularly smaller prey.
An ancient human presence in the region
Taken together, these discoveries show that the populations living in the area possessed a range of techniques well suited to their environment. The possible use of natural substances to poison weapon tips further supports the idea of an already highly developed body of knowledge and expertise.
Radiocarbon analysis dates these objects to around 4,500 BC. However, occupation of the site goes back much further. The earliest human groups are believed to have used the area as a refuge as early as the 11th millennium BC.
This discovery therefore provides new insights into ways of life in the southern part of North America. It also shows that some regions, still relatively little studied, may yet hold major surprises.
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