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Arrowheads and Spearheads
One of the largest distinctions between different types of ancient arrowheads may be their intended purpose. The name arrowhead is sometimes misleading, since often arrowheads were used as spearheads and were not shot with a bow. Many ancient civilizations created arrowheads that were up to 8 inches long and too heavy to be propelled unless attached to poles that were larger and thicker than arrows and thrown as spears. Scientists have found traces of glue on larger arrowheads and assume that these were used as spearheads for hunting and battle weapons.
Stone Age Arrowheads
Arrowheads found dating to the Stone Age were usually made of chips of and flakes of rock. These arrowheads were simple and did not feature the careful design and chipping of later arrowheads. The most advanced arrowheads used during the Stone Age were chipped from flint. It is unclear to scientists whether arrowheads in the Stone Age were propelled by a bow and arrow or spear, or whether they were primarily thrown by hand.
Egyptian Arrowheads
Ancient Egyptians used arrowheads as cutting tools, hunting equipment, and war weapons. Like other societies, Egyptians made their earliest arrowheads from flint. However, between 2,900 and 2,700 B.C., Egyptians began to craft arrowheads from iron. They also created bronze spearheads and arrowheads. Egyptians obtained copper and tin from mines along the Nile, which they refined into bronze. Metal arrowheads had to be cast and hammered, unlike their stone counterparts, which were chipped, making them technologically distinct.
Native American Arrowheads
Native Americans made arrowheads by chiseling hard stone into triangles with sharp points and sharp edges. Large arrowheads, which were used in war and to kill big game like bison and wooly mammoth, featured a Clovis point and were common 13,000 to 10,000 years in the past. The Clovis point is sharply pointed and can be up to 8 inches long. Arrowheads featuring a Clovis point were sometimes wielded as knives and used in warfare. Native Americans often crafted Clovis point arrowheads out of obsidian, taking advantage of this sharp, glasslike stone that existed in abundance due to volcanic activity. Other ancient Native Americanan arrowheads featured a Pinto point and were used 10,000 to 6,000 years ago. Pinto points were made from a variety of imported rocks that people procured by trading. They were primarily used for hunting small animals such as rodents, ducks, and even fish.