lahikkaan

Lahikkaan is a term of Sami origin, used to describe the traditional Sami hunting conical harpoon with a board or a hollow stone as a point. The harpoon was traditionally made from wood and had a polylobed blooket, which allowed for multiple barbs to be deployed.

The polylobed blooket was attached to a harpoon shaft, typically made from a long, slender branch of a sturdy tree. This design allowed the harpoon to lodge itself deep into the prey, reducing the risk of the hunter losing the catch. The hollow stone or board point served as the point of the harpoon and helped to prevent it from becoming stuck in the gap of the polylobed blooket.

The composition and construction of the lahikkaan varied depending on the region in which it was made. In some areas, the blooket may have been made from a single piece of wood, while in others it may have consisted of separate wooden pieces bound together.

The traditional method of hunting with lahikkaan involved the hunter propelling the harpoon into the frozen hide of game such as reindeer, which would result in the animal wandering with the baited harpoon stuck in its back, at which point the hunter would approach and kill the animal.

The use of lahikkaan as a hunting tool dates back to ancient times and reflects an integral part of the traditional Sami hunting culture.