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Description

Because arrows were constructed almost entirely of perishable organic materials, there are unfortunately no complete examples that have survived for archaeologists to study: the projectile points are generally the only part of the arrow to survive. Therefore, our present knowledge about the prehistoric use of arrows relies predominantly on the ubiquitous presence of stone projectile points throughout the North American continent. There are other important sources of information about prehistoric arrows and arrow-making, however, such as studying the continuing arrow-making traditions of modern Native Americans, a (careful) use of the records made by those Europeans who first came into contact with the indigenous populations of North (and South) America, and finally the use of experimental archaeology to attempt to synthesize all of these sources of information.

Keywords

Projectile Point; Arrowhead; Mississippian

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