Prehistoric Superglue

Scientists working in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, have discovered a superglue dating back thousands of years. “The glue . . . is just as good as the stuff found in hardware stores today,” says The Star, a Johannesburg
newspaper. It is believed that ancient hunters used the glue to attach arrowheads or spear points to their shafts. Scientists’ attempts to replicate the ancient formula—with red ocher, animal fat, acacia gum, and sand—and to get the temperature control just right to dry the adhesive next to a fire, gave the scientists “new respect” for the people who used it.

Posted in: History