ARROWI'OIXTS, Sl'liARHEADS, AND KXIVI-S OF PRimiSTORIC 



TIMliS. 



By Thomas Wilson, LL. D., 

 Curator, Division of I'rehistorif Jrchaoloffij. 



INTRODUCTION. 



A spear is a long, pointed weapon, held in the hand, used in war and 

 hunting-, more by thrusting than throwing. Lance is synonymous with 

 spear, though it may be smaller and lighter, but longer, used either by 

 thrusting or throwing. A javelin is shorter, smaller, and lighter than 

 the spear or lance and is better adapted to throwing by the hand. All 

 of them may, in case of need, be used in band-to-hand combats or in 

 an assaulting column. 



A harpoon is a spear or Javelin with barbs or toggles, usually thrown 

 at hsh or marine animals, though specialized for striking whales. 



An arrow is similar to a javelin, but shorter, smaller^ lighter, and to 

 be shot from a bow. It is a missile and purely offensive. In prehistoric 

 times and before metals were in use these were tipped with stone or bone. 



Tlie arrowpoints, spearheads, and knives of the prehistoric races, 

 when made of stone, have such a likeness of form and style that a 

 sharp line of division between them is impracticable. A small imple- 

 ment may be an arrowhead; a large one of the same type may be a 

 spearhead, while either or both may have served as knives. The dis- 

 tinction might be better made if the shafts or handles remained, but 

 these, together with the lashings and attachments, have decayed and 

 disappeared, except occasionally where bitumen or gum was employed. 

 An implement of this kind, whether large or small, with a light shaft 

 2 or 3 feet long would be an arrow; the same with a heavy shaft 8 or 10 

 feet long would be a spear, while either of them with a shaft a foot or 

 less in length would be a knife, dagger, or poniard. Indeed, an imple- 

 ment of the latter class might be accidentally made through the break- 

 ing of a spear or arrow shaft. Few if any of these implements of the 

 real prehistoric; man have been found with their shafts or handles and 

 lashings or fastenings, and so we are largely driven to theory and 

 analogy for their names and uses. In modern times the perfect arrow, 

 first with a stone head, afterwards with one of iron, and shaft attached, 

 was used in great numbers by the North American Indians; spears com- 

 plete, with stone or iron head and shaft attached, were used by the Eski- 

 mos, and knives with short handles have been found among the Hupa 

 Indians of Oregon and California, and a few in prehistoric graves on the 



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