Interpretations of prehistoric technology from ancient Egyptian and other sources.: Part II: Prehistoric arrow forms in Africa as shown by surviving examples of the traditional arrows of the San Bushmen

• Autores: J. Desmond Clark
• Localización: Paléorient, ISSN 0153-9345, Vol. 3, Nº. 1, 1975-1977, págs. 127-150
• Idioma: francés
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• Resumen

  • The historic bows and arrows of the San Bushmen of southern Africa are described. The arrows include bone pointed examples and others in which the head consists of two microliths set in mastic at an angle and back to back against a wooden foreshaft so that the tips at the distal end are juxtaposed and the cords of the lunates combine to form a broad, sharp cutting edge.

    Archaeological finds from sub-Saharan Africa and Egypt strongly suggest these historic reed and sometimes wooden shafted arrow forms are surviving variants of traditional patterns that may be 15,000 years old. Ethnographic and historical data when used in context have more than a general relevance for interpreting prehistoric technology and related behaviour.