Barbed <em>sagaie</em> points carved from deer antler, from Madeleine, Tursac (Dordogne)

Pointes de sagaies barbelées en bois de renne de la Madeleine à Tursac (Dordogne)
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Barbs have been sculpted along the length of these points, which are approximately 15 cm long. This type of point was invented during the Late Magdalenian and made from reindeer antler. The barbs ensured that the hunting weapon remained firmly in the prey, and the points were probably used in water for fishing or hunting. These points have been modified at the base, possibly to allow them to be detached from the shaft, to which they would have been attached by rope. If we are one day able to prove this, they would be considered as parts of harpoons. Objects conserved at the musée d'Archéologie nationale at Saint-Germain-en-Laye.

Photo © RMN-Grand Palais (MAN)/Jean Schormans

Photo © RMN-Grand Palais (MAN)/Jean Schormans

Source

Vist the site : Étiolles, Palaeolithic encampments