Arrowheads

Arrowheads are the tips mounted on arrow shafts, used for hunting and warfare. They have been made from stone, metal, bone, or ceramic and found worldwide. The term is common in everyday language, but archaeologists often call them projectile points or arrow points, distinguishing arrow tips from the shaft and fletching.

Stone arrowheads are typically produced by flintknapping, using percussion and pressure flaking to create a sharp, durable point. Metal arrowheads—bronze, iron, or steel—were cast or forged and can be sharpened and resharpened. Bone, shell, and ceramic points appear in various cultures, especially for small game or ceremonial uses. Production methods and materials varied with local resources and technological traditions.

Shapes and features vary widely. Common forms include triangular or lanceolate points, sometimes with a stem, tang, or socket for attachment to the shaft. Broadhead points are wide and designed for larger game, while bodkin points are long and narrow, intended to pierce armor or thick hide. Many arrowheads bear barbs or serrations to complicate retrieval after impact.

Chronology and distribution: Stone arrowheads were widespread by the Upper Paleolithic, with regional styles emerging in the Mesolithic and Neolithic. In North America, distinctive points such as Clovis are associated with particular cultures, while in other regions metals became prevalent during the Bronze and Iron Ages. Variants reflect adaptations to different prey, habitats, and hunting practices.

Archaeology and significance: Arrowheads illuminate hunting technologies, subsistence strategies, and cultural contacts. Their distribution, context, and typology aid dating and reconstruction of behavior, while preservation depends on environmental conditions.