826 



REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1897. 



Ill the middle part of the Paleolithic period an implement appeared 

 which we may well supi)ose to have been the head of a spear or javelin 

 (fiS-s. 3, 4). 



These implements have been called Mousterien points from their hav- 

 ing been fonnd in pnrity and i)rofusion in the cavern of Monstier on 

 the river \'czcre in France. Their character is shown by the two 

 figures, being the oj^posite sides of 

 the same implement, obverse and 

 reverse. They are smooth flakes of 

 flint, thin, rather heavy at the butt, 

 tapering on sides and edges to a i)oint. 

 They were struck from a core of flint 

 at a single blow, which left a broad, 

 flat surface on the inside, showing the 

 conchoid of percussion. The workmen 

 in manufacturing the implement left 

 this side in its original condition as it 

 came from the block. The outer side 



(■M 



Figs. 5, C. 



PALEOLITHIC POINTS AND HAR- 

 POONS OK REINDEER HORN. 



La Madeleine, France. 



Figa. 7-10. 



PALEOLITHIC POINTS AND HARPOONS OF REINDEER HORN. 



La Madeleine, Dordogne, Franoc. 



Liirti't .iiul Christy. 2^ luituial >ij;e. 



was chipped by small flakes to a regular outline and made sharp along 

 the two <'dges and at the point. None of the objections made to the 

 handling of the Chelleen implement apply to this. It was and is easy 

 to insert this implement into a cleft stick and fasten it tightly either 

 with thongs or bitumen so as to be effective as a spear or javelin. 

 There is no positive evidence that they were -thus used, but the fact 

 that it could have been done, that similar implements were and are thus 



