Hafting of stone points
Enmangado de puntas de piedra (lanzas compuestas)
- Date
- c. 500 ka · confidence medium
- Place
- Kathu Pan 1, Northern Cape, South Africa
- Credited to
- Homo heidelbergensis
- Field
- Tools
⚠️ Disputed: the sources disagree.
What it is
Stone points with impact fractures and basal modifications indicate that they were fixed to wooden shafts. It is the first composite tool: several parts of different materials assembled together.
The interpretation of the Kathu Pan points as hafted is accepted by most, but some authors require direct adhesive residue.
What it led to
- Modular thinking: combining components for a purpose
- Hunting of large prey from a safe distance
- Demand for adhesives and bindings (cords, sinews)
Built on
- Acheulean handaxe (Mode 2)c. 1,76 Ma
- Wooden spear (Schöningen)c. 300 ka
- Acheulean handaxe (Mode 2)
- Wooden spear (Schöningen)
Made possible
- Birch bark tar adhesivec. 200 ka
- Barbed bone harpoonc. 90 ka
- Compound adhesive of plant gum and ochrec. 70 ka
- Bow and arrowc. 64 ka
- Cordage (twisted fibre string)c. 50 ka
- Split-based antler and bone pointc. 40 ka
- Flint sicklec. 23 ka
- Spear-thrower (atlatl)c. 20 ka
- Birch bark tar adhesive
- Cordage (twisted fibre string)
- Spear-thrower (atlatl)
- Bow and arrow