PROJECTILE POINTS


PROJECTILE POINTS
Projectile points are tools that were hafted as points in arrows.
There are many types e.g.: single-edged points, transverse points, tanged points, bifacial points.

single-edged point
Single-edged points are projectile points that have two retouched edges. The edges are formed by abrupt retouch and are usually modified along one full edge and are diverging from the base to an edge. The shortest retouched edge must be < 60 % of the longest retouched side. (Helskog et al.1976., 25).

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transverse point
Transverse points are projectile points that do not form a point but have a straight or angled "cutting" edge. They are often made from a medial section of a blade or bladelet so that the "cutting" edge is the original edge of the blank. i.e. they are oriented transversely to the axis of percussion.

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tanged point
Tanged points are projectile points that have a tang at one end to facilitate hafting. A tang is made by retouching one, or more usually both edges, in order to create a projection that is thinner than the width of the blank. This projection is then fitted into the arrow shaft.

Tanged point - A1 are projectile points that are made from naturally pointed blade blanks that have no, or little, retouch except for the tang which is created by direct retouch.

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Tanged point - A2 are projectile points. They are most common in the production of tangs for projectile points, particularly in the A2 and B types of Neolithic typology (Helskog et al.1976., 26).
tanged point - A2 are projectile points. They are most common in the production of tangs for projectile points, particularly in the A2 and B types of Neolithic typology (Helskog et al.1976, 26). Tanged points- A2 have alternate retouch position

Tanged point - A3 points are simple tanged points made on blades. Only the tang and occasionally the point are retouched. The tang is made by inverse abrupt retouch.
A-points are normally attributed to the Early Neolithic.

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Bifacially retouched points
Bifacially retouched points are projectile points that are retouched on both surfaces, often with invasive retouch covering most of both surfaces. They are divided into types by shape. e.g.. bifacial leaf-shaped point, bifacial triangular point,bifacial lanceolate point. They may be tanged or have barbs, or both, as in a bifacial barbed and tanged point.
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bifacial leaf-shaped point
Bifacial leaf-shaped points are bifacial projectile points that are retouched on both surfaces and shaped like a leaf

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bifacial triangular point
Bifacial triangular points are bifacial projectile points that are retouched on both surfaces and triangular in shape.

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bifacial lanceolate point
Bifacial lanceolate points are bifacial projectile points that are retouched on both surfaces and lanceolate i.e. elongated leaf shaped.

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barbed and tanged point
Barbed and tanged points are bifacial projectile points
that are retouched on both surfaces with barbs and tang.

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