Flint Harpoon-Barbs

Abstract

Though Sir John Evans described a series of flint implements as “single-barbed arrowheads,” the shape of the majority precluded any such explanation of their use, and it was not until Dr. A. E. Relph put forward the suggestion in “The Antiquary” for September, 1907, that these implements were in reality harpoon-barbs, that students of prehistoric archæology were satisfied that their nomenclature was correct. They are all triangular, the longest edge being thin and unworked, and this, it is suggested, was fixed in the side of a bone or wooden shaft, probably tipped by a triangular or tanged and barbed arrowhead. In most of the specimens the remaining two edges are carefully chipped, the longer being usually straight, and the shorter concave. This curved portion would be fixed pointing to the handle of the harpoon, the long sloping edge enabling the weapon to pierce the object aimed at, while the curved barb would prevent it slipping out.