Identifying Bone-Tipped Arrow Types in the Archaeological Record of Southern Africa: The Contribution of Use-Trace Studies

Justin Bradfield

20 citations0/0 files storedJournal of African Archaeology

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Archaeology and Rock Art Studies Archaeology and ancient environmental studies Pleistocene-Era Hominins and Archaeology

Abstract

This study presents a historical review of the different types of southern African hunter-gatherer arrows employing a piece of bone situated at or near the tip of the arrow, which I call the apical bone component. The results of an extensive use-trace study of bone points and fragments thereof from twelve archaeological sites spanning the last 18,000 years show that it is possible to identify arrow types based on associated use-trace features. Five possible arrow types are identified from the archaeological sample, all dating to within the last 4000–6000 years. Using use-trace studies it is possible to identify now-missing components of the arrows, such as metal, mastic or stone inserts. Contrary to recent claims, I do not find evidence for bone-tipped arrows evolving along a continuum. Rather, some arrow types may have a much greater antiquity than previously thought.

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References

1983Style and Social Information in Kalahari San Projectile Points 1980The Stone Age cultures of South Africa 2011Hard core and cutting edge: experimental manufacture and use of Magdalenian composite projectile tips 2010Travels in Southern Africa: In the Years 1803, 1804, 1805 and 1806 1994KwaGandaganda: settlement patterns in the Natal Early Iron Age 1960!Kung Bushman Bands 2014Are osseous artefacts a window to perishable material culture? Implications of an unusually complex bone tool from the Late Pleistocene of East Timor 1975Interpretations of Prehistoric Technology from Ancient Egyptian and other Sources. Part II : Prehistoric arrow forms in Africa as shown by surviving examples of the traditional arrows of the San Bushmen

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2018The antiquity of bow-and-arrow technology: evidence from Middle Stone Age layers at Sibudu Cave 2020Further evidence for bow hunting and its implications more than 60 000 years ago: Results of a use-trace analysis of the bone point from Klasies River Main site, South Africa 2022Archaeological adhesives made from Podocarpus document innovative potential in the African Middle Stone Age 2023Potential biomarkers for southern African hunter-gatherer arrow poisons applied to ethno-historical and archaeological samples

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