Spearthrower

The relationship between human evolution and advances in hunting evolution is one of the frequently debated issues of Palaeolithic studies in the last decade. Recent studies suggest that long-range projectile hunting was innovated by modern humans, but not practiced by previous humans, and the complex projectile technology using spearthrower or bow indicates the high cognitive ability of modern humans. If this hypothesis is true, evidence for long-range projectile hunting must be found at the early Upper Palaeolithic sites in East Asia as well. In order to better understand
hunting evolution in East Asia, we started a projectile experiment project which allows us to reconstruct hunting methods, such as the use of thrusting lances, hand-casting javelins, spearthrower darts, and bow and arrow, on the basis of the traces on lithic artifacts.
Macroscopic analysis of the experimental specimens shows that there is a correlation between the formation patterns of impact fractures and the impact velocities. Especially, the frequency and dimension of impact fractures and the volume reduction rate would be useful indicators for detecting the use of spearthrower and bow in archaeological assemblages.

Archaeologists have long assumed that fluted points were used by North American Paleoindians as
spearthrower dart armatures despite a lack of empirical evidence of the spearthrower from the Paleoindian
Period. Employing non-subjective, quantitative data derived from velocity-dependent microfracture
features observed on damaged fluted and un-fluted Paleoindian lithic points, this research
presents empirical evidence for the existence of the Paleoindian spearthrower. In addition, the research
serves as proof-of-concept for a novel quantitative method of lithic analysis that has far-reaching potential
to contribute significantly to our understanding of the human past.

Spearthrower devices held a role around the world as a primary weapon and tool before slowly falling out of favor in certain areas for other projectile weapons. While it is widely accepted that spearthrowers were used by the people of the ancient central Andes, comparatively little research has gone into the role that they had as weapons of war, hunting tools, and objects of ceremonial reverence. In addition, the Andes developed a unique style of spearthrower and have produced many examples of spearthrowers with exceptional craftsmanship, leading me to believe that these tools were given special reverence.
This thesis compiles evidence of who in the Andes was using spearthrowers, and in what contexts, by comparing iconography to existing artifacts. It was determined that they saw the heaviest use among the coastal societies through the Early Intermediate Period and were primarily seen as a symbol in the following years.

The authors organized a projectile experiment including the use of bow and spear-thrower in conditions replicating Palaeolithic hunting. Experimental copies of antler points from the Late Upper Palaeolithic showed proximal fractures characteristic of spear-thrower use. Similar fractures are found on archaeological specimens from the Upper Magdalenian occupation of the Isturitz site, thus bringing arguments in favour of the persistence of this weapon at least until ca. 16―14 cal ka BP in Western Europe.

L'Abri de La Madeleine a livré au moins 9 fragments de propulseurs, sans doute plus. L'un d'entre eux provient des fouilles menées par É. Lartet et H. Christy en 1863, tous les autres des fouilles conduites par D. Peyrony d'octobre 1910 à octobre 1913. En cela, ils sont les premiers à bénéficier d'une position stratigraphique plus ou moins fiable. À une exception près, tous proviennent du niveau inférieur, attribué par L. Capitan et D. Peyrony à ce qui deviendra le Magdalénien IV d'H. Breuil. Chose remarquable, un exemplaire a été exhumé au sein du niveau moyen, attribué au Magdalénien V, associé à des harpons à barbelures unilatérales : c'est à ce jour, un des rares propulseurs découverts explicitement dans un niveau du Magdalénien supérieur. Pour la plupart, ces fragments appartiennent au type 3 de notre classification de 1988, qui regroupe les propulseurs de type mâle à crochet, de forme générale en baguette, ornés d'un avant-train d'herbivore, le plus souvent un cheval, parfois limité à la tête, décor qui ne modifie pas la forme générale. Ce type possède la répartition géographique la plus large et son extension chronologique reste à préciser. Deux objets fragmentaires appartiennent clairement au type 4, comprenant les propulseurs de type mâle à crochet, présentant une ornementation qui se développe en saillie sur le fût subcylindrique «en baguette» du propulseur. Ce décor est généralement traité en ronde-bosse aplatie, mais peut aussi se limiter à des motifs en champlevé. L'un d'entre eux est le seul exemplaire connu à avoir été façonné en ivoire de mammouth. Abstract: Spearthrower fragments from the La Madeleine shelter (Dordogne, France). At least 9 spearthrower fragments, maybe more, were found at the La Madeleine shelter. One of these was found during the excavations led by E. Lartet and H. Christy in 1863, all the rest during D. Peyrony's excavations between 1910 and 1913. They are therefore the first to have a fairly reliable stratigraphic position. All but one come from the inferior level, attributed by L. Capitan and D. Peyrony to the Magdalenian IV as described by H. Breuil. One fragment was found in the middle level, attributed to the Magdalenian V, along with unilaterally barbed harpoons: to this day, it is one of the few spearthrowers specifically found in an Upper Magdalenian level. These fragments practically all belong to the type 3 of our 1988 classification: male spearthrowers (hook), shaft shaped with a decor that does not modify their overall sub cylindrical shape, and decorated with a herbivore's forequarters, usually a horse, sometimes just the head. This type has the widest geographic extension, but its chronology still needs to be clarified.

Feathered projectiles fly like deadly birds. Birds, as well as snakes and lightning , are rather obvious metaphors applied throughout the world to arrows and to the atlatl darts that preceded the arrow. Although we cannot presume to know ancient thoughts, we can see the expression of some general concepts and concerns. I  speculate on the common use of bird symbolism with atlatls and how it was used to connect atlatls to other important concerns of ancient cultures in the imagery of war and atlatl use in ancient, the American Southwest, and  in the Midwest and Eastern United States.

Abstract: The excavations carried out by E. Passemard and R. and S. de Saint-Périer in the cave of Isturitz uncovered many fragments of spearthrowers of all the known types. Often beautifully decorated, these artefacts were found in the layers dated from the Middle Magdalenian, possibly even from its earlier phases. The C14 dated spearthrower draft suggests that this kind of weapon was still in use late in the Upper Magdalenian. This draft prooves also that the production was local.

Keywords: Magdalenian, Isturitz, bone industry, portable art, spearthrower, weapon, horse, bovid, salmon, caprid

Résumé : Les fouilles d’E. Passemard et de R. et S. de Saint-Périer dans la grotte d’Isturitz ont livré de nombreux fragments de propulseurs appartenant à tous les types identifiés. Souvent superbement décorés, ces objets proviennent des couches attribuées au Magdalénien moyen, peut-être même à des phases anciennes de celui-ci. La date 14C réalisée sur une ébauche suggère par ailleurs que ce type d’arme était encore en usage jusqu’à une date avancée dans le Magdalénien supérieur. La présence de cette ébauche témoigne également d’une production locale.

Mots-clefs : Magdalénien, Isturitz, industrie osseuse, art mobilier, propulseur, arme, cheval, bovidé, saumon, capridé

During the Early Middle Magdalenian, the south-western Franco-Cantabrian region released a small number of spearthrowers that differ from the decorated spearthrowers of the classical phase by a couple characteristics. This may be the reason why they are massively unknown, even among Prehistorians. Thanks to their morphology and their morphometry, as well as their wide geographic distribution, and their association with very specificmaterial remains, these spearthrowers may contribute to a better understanding of the various aspects of the Early Middle Magdalenian.

This investigation characterizes stone point production and use at PPNB Halula.Ballistic attributes indicate that Byblos points might have been used as dart-points.Expansion of darts use is synchronous with consolidation of agriculture in the region.Large tanged points made on bidirectional blades constitute the most characteristic tool type during the Pre-Pottery Neolithic B in the Levant. Studies on projectile typology and on bidirectional technology have revealed important stylistic differences reflecting chronological and geographical patterning, contributing significantly to the understanding of early farming communities in the Near East. However, the reconstruction of the weapons these large tanged points were part of has not received the same attention. This investigation aims to fully characterize stone point production at Halula, a PPNB settlement in the middle Euphrates valley, and reconstruct the type of weapons and delivery mechanisms used. Our study also includes the analysis of various ballistic attributes using a series of recent morpho-metric methods and comparison with ethnographic and experimental data about projectiles of known use. Results indicate that Byblos points might have been used as dart-points propelled with the help of spear-throwers, indicating a shift –from bow to spear-thrower– in projectile technology associated with the appearance and expansion of bidirectional blade technology during the PPNB in the Levant and synchronous with the consolidation of agricultural systems in the region.

An unpublished fragment of a spear-thrower of type 2 from the Grotte du Placard was recently identified in Breuil’s collection stored at the IPH, Paris. It is very similar to another fragment drawn and used by Breuil to establish his chronology of the Upper Palaeolithic, in which it is attributed to the Magdalenian III. From a morphological, morphometric and technologic point of view, it is also very much alike a spearthrower fragment of Combe-Saunière I, assigned to the Upper Solutrean.

Although the spearthrower is an iconic weapon of the European Upper Paleolithic, only 115 unquestionable specimens are known to date, their number increases rather slowly and many of them have no precise chronological and cultural context. For this reason, each discovery of a new specimen is important, especially when it belongs to a poorly documented type and comes from a precise archeological context. The spearthrower presented in this paper comes from the Gazel cave, the largest and best documented Magdalenian site in the Mediterranean Midi, excavated between 1977 and 1994. The Magdalenian levels of Gazel yielded more than 12,000 lithic artefacts, 1,000 pieces of worked bone and antler, 200 personal ornaments, and a very rich faunal record dominated by reindeer, snow hare and horse, complemented by ptarmigan and chough. The characteristics of the industries, and a series of 4 radiocarbon dates by AMS, reliably place the Magdalenian occupation of Gazel in the Late Middle Magdalenian (LMM, ca. 17.5-17 cal ka BP).
The fragment of antler spearthrower was found at the bottom of layer 7 (fig. 1-4). It is 57 mm long, 13 mm wide and 9.5 m thick, with a curved profile in the distal part. Its upper side shows a longitudinal gutter, 5 mm wide and 1 mm deep, ending in a short spur (fig. 5). The presence of this “gutter and spur” system to hold the projectile in place is characteristic of “type 1” spearthrowers—i.e., “mixed type” or “androgynous” spearthrowers, as opposed to male and female types. The upper face is decorated with 4 longitudinal striae and the morphology of the proximal fracture suggests breakage during use.
Layer 7 yielded 6 other objects that can unquestionably, probably or possibly classified as fragments of antler spearthrowers (fig. 6). Two specimens belong to type 3 (decorated with an herbivore fore-end, usually a horse, integrated in to the general shape of the shaft) and one can be related to type 4 (decorated with an “in the round” figure, or ronde-bosse, protruding from the shaft). The material, dimensions and morphology of the last 3 objects are compatible with an identification as spearthrower fragments, without certainty. None is typologically or morphologically compatible with the androgynous specimen.
Outside the specimen from Gazel, only 3 androgynous spearthrowers are known in the European Upper Paleolithic. The specimen from Isturitz (fig. 7) dates to the LMM but is morphologically very different from the object found at Gazel, and its identification as spearthrower remains debated. Conversely, the specimen from Laugerie-Basse (fig. 8-9), found in the 1860s and deprived of any precise archeological context, is very similar to the object from Gazel: it was made from an antler tine, shows a “gutter and spur” system, has a curved profile in the distal part, and is decorated with striae. The specimen from Le Flageolet II (fig. 10) was found out of context but very probably comes from layer IX, which is 14C-dated to the Middle Magdalenian (probably the LMM according to its lithic industries). Made of bone, it is also very similar to the Gazel and Laugerie-Basse specimens: it has a “gutter and spur” system, a slightly curved distal profile, and a decoration mostly made of carved incisions.
While type 1 spearthrowers had no precise chronological attribution so far, the identification of the androgynous spearthrower from Gazel firmly places this type within the LMM, between 17.5 and 17 cal ka BP according to the 14C data from layer 7. This discovery also extends the distribution area of type 1 spearthrowers outside the Périgord to the Montagne Noire, thus adding to the list of evidence for long-distance contacts in this region during the Magdalenian.
The attribution of type 1 spearthrowers to the LMM reinforces the idea that this period constitutes, at the scale of the whole Magdalenian, the peak of technical and stylistic variation for this type of weapon. It is yet another example of the technical inventiveness visible in weapon design during this period, and which represents the culmination of a long-term trend starting in the beginning of the Magdalenian.
The specimen from Gazel shows small dimensions compared to the ones from Laugerie-Basse and Le Flageolet II (fig. 11). These unusually small dimensions are also found on a few specimens belonging to other types of Magdalenian spearthrowers. The hypothesis that these “miniature” weapons were made for children is admissible but cannot be ascertained.

Despite the dominance of wood-based technologies in Australian Aboriginal techno-complexes, recovery of archaeological examples is exceedingly rare in the north of the continent where environmental conditions are most harsh for such archaeologically fragile items. Here we report the discovery of a 210 year old spearthrower butt made from bat-wing coral tree (Erythrina vespertilio) from the Worrorra site of Widgingarri 9 (western Kimberley).

Stone or bone, transverse heads or points, barbs, foreshafts, harpoon heads... Projectile weapon elements are found in many forms in prehistoric sites, at least from the beginning of the Upper Palaeolithic. These artefacts first attract archaeologists with their great numbers, often dominating proportions in tool assemblages, but they are also interesting due to their clearly dynamic role in prehistoric material