Grooved Spearpoint
Hunting weapon
Kokorevo type, Siberia
Magdalenian equivalent
Around 15 000 years
Commentary :
Numerous spearpoints made from reindeer antler have been discovered in prehistoric sites in Western Europe and Siberia.
They are armed with flint microblades that are found still attached with a resin-based adhesive, in one or two lateral grooves.
These points with interchangeable flint armatures, are more efficient than simple spearpoints.
The lateral barbs of sharp flint microblades, cause fatal haemorrhaging and a blood trail that allows hunters to easily follow an animal until its death. This hunting technique is well adapted to snow covered glacial landscapes.
The grooved spearpoint shows the inventiveness of Magdalenian hunters around 15 000 years ago. Their desire to improve the performance and efficiency of their weapons, reflects the fundamental role of hunting, in Palaeolithic societies.