Solutrean Shouldered Point
Hunting weapon
Solutrean
25 000 to 23 000 years
Commentary :
The Solutrean shouldered point is the ideal armature for arrows and spears. This fine and light point rarely weighs more than five grams. Its fixing in a small caliber shaft is made possible by its shoulder.
Fixing the shouldered point perfectly to the wooden shaft requires the use of both a tendon ligature that tightens when it dries and an adhesive, probably made from a mixture of resin, wax and clay. This mixture becomes malleable when near a source of heat and hardens when cold. It is indispensable for attaching the armatures and to protect the ligature from humidity.
The standardization of Solutrean shouldered points is probably linked to a need to easily replace armatures on shafts. Due to the rarity of wood during glacial periods, these shafts are particularly precious to Solutrean hunter-gatherers.