Projectiles and hafting technology

Abstract

Stone tool hafting has always been considered important, but its interpretative potential has not yet been sufficiently recognized. While wear studies have recently demonstrated the possibility of deriving hafting data from the stone tools themselves, it is essential that these kinds of data are now also integrated with regard to armature identifications. New experiments with spears and arrows show that armature identifications are complex and that no single feature on its own is diagnostic of projectile impact. Also the distinction between different projecting modes is still seriously hampered by the lack of a reliable reference. It is argued that hafting wear is essential for more adequate identifications of armatures and their projecting mode. The analysis of a number of archaeological Middle Palaeolithic and Late Palaeolithic assemblages in North West Europe allowed identifying the existence of hafted spear points for the Middle Palaeolithic sites and arrows armed with tips and barbs for the Late Palaeolithic sites.