Experimental evidence for the efficacy of transversal hafting of backed segments as arrowheads

Abstract

Backed segments in quartz from the Howiesons Poort industry of Southern Africa (65–60 ka) have been interpreted as tips of arrows. Nevertheless, several different hafting configurations for these pieces have been proposed. Here, experimental data on the efficacy of two different hafting configurations is presented. Arrows with flint segments replicated to the dimensions of quartz segments from the Howiesons Poort have been shot into gelatin targets. These experiments show that transversally hafted segments outperform diagonally hafted segments in penetration depth, but there is substantial overlap in the size of wounds caused. Our results help constrain the interpretation of archaeological backed segments from the Howiesons Poort and similar lithic elements from technocomplexes across Africa and Europe.