The abundance of stone projectile points uncovered by archaeologists around the world demonstrates the importance and ubiquity of the bow in ancient life. Antler arrowheads have also been recovered – albeit far less often than stone points. A review of literature reveals that many distinct groups of people used antlers to make arrowheads – often at the same times and places as other arrowheads made from stone. This coincidence has led some archaeologists to suggest a difference in function. This study uses experimental archaeology to evaluate the performance of stone versus antler arrowheads. Replicas of each arrow type were shot into ballistics gel to gauge their relative damage. The results allow us to infer advantages and disadvantages of each type and to hypothesize why antler-tipped arrows are less common in the archaeological record.
Social Sciences
