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Bird Points - Function & Use
Bird Points - Notes on Function
Microlithic points are colloquially known as "bird points", leading to an assumption that they were used to hunt birds or very small game.
Enough microlithic points have been found in association with kill sites of big game – including bison- to establish the likelihood that they were used to hunt large animals. Experimental archaeology has shown that points less than half inch in length are easily lethal enough to kill a deer or even a larger animal when used on an arrow. They would certainly have been effective in warfare. This video is very informative:
Stone point penetration test on a deer (warning: dead fluffy animals!):
A better understanding of likely usage comes from a knowledge of archery and its technology. It’s all about arrow weight, bow-pull and penetration. A big point that fails to penetrate to the vital organs does less damage than a small point which pierces the heart or lungs.
The maximum penetration for a broad head comes from the use of an arrow weighing 12-14 grains per pound of bow-pull. Native American bows were generally slow versus modern compound bows, so we’re probably at the bottom end of the range. For a typical native bow with a 45lb pull, the best arrow weight would be about 540 grains. A wooden shaft could easily account for 450-500 grains and that then means you need a small point to compensate.
In areas where willow was used for bow-making the bows were generally D-shaped to prevent “overdrawing” and breakage, since willow is a fairly weak wood. A pull of around 30lb might be typical and that means lighter arrows were needed. This was achieved in part by either short-and-broad or longer-and-thinner arrowheads in combination with lightweight shafts. Reeds and the arrowweed stem (Pluchea sericea) were preferred materials and you could make a shaft weighing only about 200 grains. In areas where stronger wood such as juniper was available for bow-making, heavier arrowshafts with bigger heads could be used.
Also, after the horse became established among native tribes, the bow was generally shortened (the “horse bow”) and so was the arrow… again leading to the use of smaller points.
There are also accounts of tiny points in hollow reed shafts being used for close-range bow-hunting of duck and waterfowl (such as for the Lutuami or Klamath Lake Indians in southern Oregon). Hunters would float out on rafts made from reed bundles and lie in wait.
[Acknowledgement to: contributors Keith (Hummingbird Point) and Philip (philflintstone) on Palaeoplanet for very helpful information]
Microlithic points are colloquially known as "bird points", leading to an assumption that they were used to hunt birds or very small game.
Enough microlithic points have been found in association with kill sites of big game – including bison- to establish the likelihood that they were used to hunt large animals. Experimental archaeology has shown that points less than half inch in length are easily lethal enough to kill a deer or even a larger animal when used on an arrow. They would certainly have been effective in warfare. This video is very informative:
Stone point penetration test on a deer (warning: dead fluffy animals!):
A better understanding of likely usage comes from a knowledge of archery and its technology. It’s all about arrow weight, bow-pull and penetration. A big point that fails to penetrate to the vital organs does less damage than a small point which pierces the heart or lungs.
The maximum penetration for a broad head comes from the use of an arrow weighing 12-14 grains per pound of bow-pull. Native American bows were generally slow versus modern compound bows, so we’re probably at the bottom end of the range. For a typical native bow with a 45lb pull, the best arrow weight would be about 540 grains. A wooden shaft could easily account for 450-500 grains and that then means you need a small point to compensate.
In areas where willow was used for bow-making the bows were generally D-shaped to prevent “overdrawing” and breakage, since willow is a fairly weak wood. A pull of around 30lb might be typical and that means lighter arrows were needed. This was achieved in part by either short-and-broad or longer-and-thinner arrowheads in combination with lightweight shafts. Reeds and the arrowweed stem (Pluchea sericea) were preferred materials and you could make a shaft weighing only about 200 grains. In areas where stronger wood such as juniper was available for bow-making, heavier arrowshafts with bigger heads could be used.
Also, after the horse became established among native tribes, the bow was generally shortened (the “horse bow”) and so was the arrow… again leading to the use of smaller points.
There are also accounts of tiny points in hollow reed shafts being used for close-range bow-hunting of duck and waterfowl (such as for the Lutuami or Klamath Lake Indians in southern Oregon). Hunters would float out on rafts made from reed bundles and lie in wait.
[Acknowledgement to: contributors Keith (Hummingbird Point) and Philip (philflintstone) on Palaeoplanet for very helpful information]
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