824 



REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1897. 



Mexican border. Iii^Vfriea, Australia, and Polyuesia, the spears and 

 knivesare usually of iron, socketed or tanged for tlie insertion of ahandle. 

 This paper deals ])rincii)ally with the prehistoric arrowpoint and 

 spearhead, beginning with the ruder forms of cutting, piercing, or 

 throwing weai)ons or implements in the Paleolithic i)eriod, and dealing 

 with the subject in all its characteristics. Bows are in-actically un- 

 noticed, as most specimens from prehistoric times have decayed, but 

 one or two having been found, and these only preserved by being 

 under water or in peat beds. 



I. SPEARS AND HARPOONS IN THE PALEOLITHIC PERIOD. 



Aiypearance of the spear in the Mousterien epoch — Appearance of the har- 

 poon in the Solutreen epoch — Spear or harpoon heads irith shoulder on 

 one side only. 



The spear belongs to an earlier epoch in man's civilization than does 

 the arrow. Although they are similar in ap])earance, they differ 



greatly in age. The former appeared in 

 the Paleolithic period, while the lat- 

 ter did not appear until the Neolithic. 



Fig. 1. 



acheulJ^^en implement of flint. 



Side view. 



St. Acheul, France. 



«^ naturiil size. 



PALEOLITHIC IMPLEMENT OF QUARTZITK. 



Madras, ludia. 



Cat. No. 137535, U.S.N.M. f., li:itur:il size. 



The first implements known to have been used by man were the rude, 

 thick, heavy, chipped flints which belong to the Chelleeu epoch of the 



