Why Use Antler Spears? (Paleolithic Europe Interview With Dr. James Dilley)

Prehistoric tools expert Dr. James Dilley on why people might have used antler spear points during Aurignacian Europe.
Dr. Dilley's amazing shop of prehistoric goodies!
www.ancientcraft.co.uk/
My video on Aurignacian Europe:
• Life In Paleolithic Eu...
/ stefanmilo
Disclaimer: Use my videos as a rough guide to a topic. I am not an expert, I may get things wrong. This is why I always post my sources so you can critique my work and verify things for yourselves. Of course I aim to be as accurate as possible which is why you will only find reputable sources in my videos. Secondly, information is always subject to changes as new information is uncovered by archaeologists.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
www.stefanmilo.com
Historysmilo
historysmilo

[@StefanMilo]

Check out www.ancientcraft.co.uk My full video on paleolithic Europe: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pqeTg6aZdtqgo7M

[@erinmac4750]

Interestingly, in Cogito's video about the Bushmen, San people of southern Africa, they traditionally hunt with bows that use this same type of arrowhead. I don't remember what they're crafted from, but they're designed to disconnect from the shaft, leaving the poisoned tip in the animal. The San have been living in the region for as long as 300k years. I wonder if this was their technology shared northward?

[@erinmac4750]

Awesome video! I vouch for it. 😁 Love your work Stefan!

[@jeroylenkins1745]

But why male models?

[@BRIANJAMESGIBB]

re: fuel issue - why not peat?

[@coolichka42]

I live in Oregon and I make long bows and stone axes by hand. (Plus I’m native if that means anything) takes about 4 hours to carve and make the bow string out of the bark. Would love to make you a bow with feathers and all decorated.

[@coolichka42]

My twitter is @mowglihbc I just tweeted that funny picture of you 😂😂

[@MikeSmith-vl5em]

Come on guys give this man some damn likes so this guy sees it. This guy would obviously love one!

[@oldmech619]

The stone axe Stefan is holding looks like it could easily split. Would wrapping the axe head with strapping make it stronger?

[@mostlychimp5715]

@@oldmech619 Not if you make it right, so that the stone's not pushing outwards on the sides; it's only wedged on the top and bottom. kzbin.info/www/bejne/eH-QZGeAm7qlfrs

[@oldmech619]

@@mostlychimp5715 Thanks for the video ref. Very interesting. Now I understand how hand tools could be easily be made from abounded rocks and how they could do some wood working with it.

[@TheHistocrat]

Oh no a third Stefan upload in the same month? Looks like I won't be answering all those important emails for a little while longer.

[@mickdipiano8768]

Oh no?? You woohoo?

[@Peter-ri9ie]

Same here 🙋🏻‍♂️😂

[@aloysiuseng8086]

I spent 2 weeks in Mongolia staying in ghers. The fireplace or stove was usually fired with animal dung. I guess it’s possible that ancient people tracking the herds, could have picked up lumps of animal dung and used them as a fuel source instead of wood.

[@mpetersen6]

Brings a whole new meaning to "put another log on the fire"

[@mpetersen6]

@christopher snedeker See, here's proof Climate Change was caused by Paleolitic hunter gathers burning fossil fuels! Now we know why all the continental ice sheets melted. Bring back the ICE! Sarcasm mode off. Of course the beauty of heating with wood it heats you multiple times. Once when you cut it. Once when you split it. Once when you stack it. Once more when you bring it in the house. And finally as you sit in front of the fire place on a chilly evening. Provided all the heat just doesn't go up the chimney. PS I suspect that humans have been utilizing surface deposits of coal a lot longer than we realize.

[@arthas640]

it does work great if you dont have access to wood. not ideal but its handy and works fine as long as you dont mind the smell

[@hansalbers9894]

Where is no wood.

[@mpetersen6]

@@arthas640 When everything stinks (including you and everyone around you) nothing stinks.

[@KarlaJTanner]

I love that the axe never leaves Stefan’s hands. What a dude.

[@raylovelace8588]

A man and an exquisite tool. It's a beautiful thing.

[@Joey-rs7uq]

He knows his priorities. I admire that.

[@roberthofmann8403]

Why do you love it? TIA

[@KarlaJTanner]

@@roberthofmann8403 Because it is human.

[@lilwonka]

I think he likes his new toy

[@richarddelotto2375]

Thoughts while listening: Did they throw the spears? Antler would be far harder to break.. I suspect that it would withstand leverage without snapping as well. Bones and dung burn quite well. Did he test try having a javelin guy from the track team use an antler-tipped spear against free-hanging meat targets? Spearchuckers? Any sign of having the spears as a hedge to drive the deer into? Good job, all!

[@seanbeadles7421]

I’m of the opinion that the Batons de Commandement are atlatl’s. Why throw a spear with your arm when you can throw the spear much harder and deeper with an atlatl?

[@TheFrugalMombot]

@@seanbeadles7421 I agree. When I saw it my first thought was how amazing that would be used with an Atlatl.

[@mikitta47]

My archaeology prof at UW proposed this about antler points when I was in college in the early '90's. I'm glad to see more research is being done to prove the theory :)

[@erichusayn]

As a guy who is into knives and swords, I can see why they would use antler to tip their weapons. Especially for hunting. You could sharpen a piece of antler up to a fine point and edge. All you need to penetrate is flesh, so antler is all you need. Would make for a lighter spear or tool as well...

[@reddwing4368]

Add on A spear chucker It's a bullet

[@evanz2704]

I feel weight is really an important issue here. Also, imagine you have to transport a bunch of really sharp stone tools. Even just walking with them in a bag would easily break and damage them, wheras materials like antler initially take longer to shape but will be easily transported, not prone to breaking, etc.

[@erichusayn]

@@evanz2704 for sure. Makes sense all around... Im already on the hunt for some antler to make one of my own.

[@arthas640]

@@erichusayn might want to look for a wild game processing facility/butcher or talking to hunters. They both tend to accumulate antlers from deer, the hunters collect them as they're hunting, finding "drops" the antlers that fall each winter when the deer shed their antlers and the processing places/butchers sometimes just wind up with piles of them. if you antlers from an online store you usually wind up paying more, i knew a hunter who sold like a bag of a dozen antlers for like $20 to an arts and crafts type, and saw a store selling antler points (so just a small part of an antler) for nearly $10 each.

[@erichusayn]

@@arthas640 good idea. Thanks!

[@Psittacus_erithacus]

So glad you posted the less-edited version of this. Loads of additional information & you really get a sense of Dr. Dilley's thoughtfullness & expansive grasp of the subject. Much appreciated.

[@hxcbmxallday]

Malcolm PL did a video testing different types of pre-Colombian knives used by native Americans. He found that Antler/bone knives punch holes in leather really easily. With the flaked stone knife, he was afraid to push to hard and break his knife. His findings were wood, bone and antler knives were great at stabbing. Knapped stone knives and ground slate knives were better at cutting tasks, like cutting cord, and meats. Bone/antler is dull, but strong, where stone points are sharp, but fragile.

[@kleinjahr]

Interesting point about the "breakaway" points. Another advantage of such is that you only have to have one or two shafts but can carry several more points. Some years ago I saw a video where some atlatl darts followed the same principal.

[@equinoxproject2284]

Thanks for the post Stefan, great job. I hope you and your family are well.

[@nameremoved4010]

Deer and reindeer shed their antlers. Hence, an easy resource. And now that I've listen even better, thumbs up. I am part Finn, who where full on reindeer herders and chasers.

[@TheDeadlyDan]

Thanks for this projectile focus. It underscores one of the most important differences between sapiens and other hominins in that we're unique with the use of projectiles of any sort. This long distance kill is why we could inhabit the steppes and tundras while Neanderthal could only survive in the forest. You can't sneak up and lance a reindeer on open steppes. This use of projectiles fueled our advances with technology and allowed us to inhabit "new" environments. As a napping enthusiast, I of course have bookmarked Dr Dilley's website.

[@TimL1980]

Mammoths or fury rhinos (much like their current counterparts) probably didn't run away from men with sticks. (With buffalo, red deer and reindeer you'd still have a chance getting close enough as well. Wild boars certainly didn't run away until the advent of firearms - grown ones frequently charge even today.)

[@ericromano8078]

I am also a napping enthusi... oh wait, you mean shaping rock.

[@juanpascallucianobravado6112]

I am in quarantine with covid19 and have watched all your videos twice. Please make more! I have 5 days to go. Despite your lack of ears, your channel is the best for those of us reading papers but enjoying the abstracts.

[@turfblacksmith]

Cheers Stefan for another informative chat 👊🏽

[@hamzsandwich556]

I have always wondered about stuff like this, thanks for explaining it

[@fugu_3467]

I wanted an antler combat video between you and Dr. James Dilley but this will do...

[@richardsheehan6983]

Very nice explanation: Very convincing. Answers questions.

[@StormofSteelWargaming]

Excellent video and I learnt something today. Hooray!

[@fredbergeron2193]

Great talk i like those FT. I really need to discover more people like you willing and enjoying explain archeologist thing great work again stefen keep those coming

[@DiegoAndrade-ig1qs]

Great video Stefan! Could you make a video regarding the early use of bows and arrows?

[@mickdipiano8768]

Yes more interview content!!!

[@mickdipiano8768]

A third video this month? It's a miracle!!

[@javiiibot5887]

Love this content my guy!

[@larryparis925]

Great information. Many thanks.

[@twiniki5186]

Last time I was this early Europe still used antler spears

[@bigyonga6461]

LOVE UR PFP. WOOMY ♥️✌🏽

[@twiniki5186]

@@bigyonga6461 thank you ngyes

[@bigyonga6461]

It's crazy to see another Splatoon fan in this comment section I swear to God every Splatoon fan is either a super artist, a musical buff, or some sort science geek 😂😂

[@simonmorgan225]

Last time I was this early she didnt call me back.

[@bobbob5255]

great video as always

[@rojopantalones9791]

It always blows my mind how ingenious humanity has been over its development. There are people who attribute the great feats of the ancient world to aliens or time travel, but even something so simple as a change in style in spearmaking created such a massive difference in every aspect of its function, usability, and construction. People tend to think of ancient man as dumb and clumsy, using rudimentary tools and having no understanding of the world around them, but they were clearly more intelligent than most give them credit for. I'm not saying that if you gave them the tools and resources, they could build the space shuttle, but that they had a much richer understanding of how to use the resources they had in new and ingenious ways.

[@arthas640]

10:30 its all about how you approach the board about this sort of experiment. If you ask them politely and explain the benefits of the experiment they may say no, but if you show up to the meeting in period accurate costume and start waving a spear at the board then they're much more likely to approve the experiment.

[@lillys9876]

You've become my favorite paleo/deep history youtuber ♥

[@bradleyeglinton8151]

Great video. Very informative.

[@williammeyer214]

Welcome to the “Milo and Cosmo Show”, the best on KZbin for you Paleolithic hunters out there

[@darktyrannosaurus22]

Grug have no spear Grug want meat Grug make spear Grug feel good

[@walkerlogan9130]

basically nothing has changed

[@TheFrugalMombot]

But they were more intelligent than that and likely had a far more advanced language. Cartoons from 40 years ago aside, we have learned a lot since then, so while this may be a joke, many aren’t aware of this sadly.

[@darktyrannosaurus22]

@@TheFrugalMombot Well, it's just a funny meme ;D. I don't doubt ancient hominin intelligence; Homo erectus was already making brute idols and geometric patterns more than three hundred thousand years ago.

[@anonymousbosch9265]

Seems extremely reasonable and obvious which makes for a great thesis. His store has some really cool stuff

[@dannyboywhaa3146]

His face when he presents the gifted axe lol lights up like pure gold, a kid on Christmas morning lol

[@Verntallat7]

I'm overwhelmed by the amount of eye-rolling going on in the video

[@drew1784]

Interesting interview

[@LuxisAlukard]

70K subscribers? And I was here for your 20K special, just a year ago. Nice!

[@elischrock5356]

Good stuff!

[@1963Wicky]

Fascinating stuff Stefan - Did spot a spelling typo for the early yew wood spear point location discovery - 'Clackton' should be Clacton or Clacton-on-Sea on the Essex coast.

[@MrButch-ls8vl]

There was a big sale on antler. They couldn't resist a great bargain!

[@here_we_go_again2571]

Fascinating!

[@randycompton5230]

Excellent explanation, very insightful research Material availability is a key factor. Great engineering on that spearpoint. I believe early humans were just as smart as we are.

[@betsyross2.065]

The You Tube, algorithm brought me, to your channel,what an absolute delight, to hear such an academic perspective directly from the "horses mouth"..

[@t.v.6503]

You are quite Productive nowdays! Do you make a Vid about H. Erectus any soon?

[@wallaroo1295]

😄 My first whitetail deer, stabbed me in the hand with one of his spurs - a bit of "blood for blood" in the way of Nature, if you will. I've also worked with antler a fair amount as a material - the video notes the difficulty in production and durability over stone (@13:00). This *cannot* be underestimated as the value of production time. Stone tips, snap - relatively easily - after all, that is how they are made. An antler tip is not a "broadhead arrow/spear" - as noted, it is for puncturing/bleeding - although, I'm doubtful that the spearpoint would "keep the wound open" on a deep puncture - because puncture wounds don't work like that. This can actually be seen in relatively modern practice with the adoption, quick recognition of failure, and abandonment of "Spike Bayonets" on military arms in the late 1800s - through about the end of WWII. Even the cross-shaped spike bayonets, were found to be ineffective for warfare and rapid killing. As far as I know, no modern military uses a rifle with a spike bayonet (or any bayonet really - they exist, but more as belt tools). Unless you hit something vital - a spike just won't bleed. *But* - if you are a stone-age person, and you know you need critical hits through the rib cage of a large animal - where your stone tip might break - your antler tip with punch through, completely unscathed. Anyway, I'm just blathering.

[@TheFrugalMombot]

Actually, I think it would work exactly that way just from observing surgeries myself. The antler split like that would absolutely work much like a retractor based on how it would enter the body and pry open the wound. They mentioned that the point would seal the wound initially, like you mentioned the spear points did during the war, but wounded animals will tend to retreat with more and likely stumble or run into things more as they look for a place to hide, which would lead the point to become loose, at that point, the spear tip is no longer plugging the wound, yet the split above the point will still be holding the wound open like retractors, which would both lead to a fairly rapid kill for a large animal. Humans are smaller and would have other ways of trying to get away and maneuver overground. An animal’s instinct will be to bolt and try to hide and their sheer size is against them. Remember, those antler tips were split and pried open to make room for the spear, so like a V. With the wood wedged in there.

[@siltyclayloam8739]

@@TheFrugalMombot I have to wonder if it's less the spear becoming dislodged by a the animal stumbling about and more so the human pulling the shaft out of an incapacitated animal so that the splint can quickly bleed it to death. Wounded animals can be quite dangerous, as OP mentioned themselves, and medicine at the time was rudimentary at best. Being able to pull the shaft out easily by the end might be a very effective way to reduce the risk and put it out of its misery quickly.

[@carlolson932]

I think you might be misunderstanding the way these bone tips worked - they were meant to detach from the spear and stay in the wound, holding it open. Spike bayonets, on the other hand, did not detach and stay in the wound.

[@BassGoBomb]

Excellent .. really interesting .. thank you ... :-)

[@detectivewiggles]

Really fascinating stuff. Love playing paleolithic detective haha

[@Elephantine999]

Really interesting presentation and research. Interesting that wood could have been a hard-to-find material. First time I've seen a spear go into ballistic gel! 😳

[@echowit]

Great addition/follow up to the 35K years ago video. Dr. Dilley presented a lot of info and ideas in a really clear, concise and entertaining, manner. Dare we hope for more follow-ons like this? One thing I need to know before final judgement of the good Doctor,. (LOL, of course.) How does he pronounce ATLATL? Logged in to make this comment and realized I hadn't sub'ed. Fixing that right after this post.

[@guseks8413]

Birch is a very good material for shafts. It has been used in northern scandinavia where it is still pretty cold even into modern times. Sure it is not as good as Ash, but it's still good.

[@PalmettoNDN]

Like Tyler commented earlier I am also Native and have made some pre contact weapons and tools. I'll say that my theory on this is that possibly the population migrated from a place where proper knapping stone wasn't found. Here in South Carolina there is zero flint south of the fall line, with the exception of beautiful agates and jaspers in the banks of the Savannah River. Heat treated quartz was used, but it sucked. Bone, antler, and alligator gar scales were used often - but those points are rarely found due to decomposition. However, they are documented by period sources. Also, very early in the trade period when they trusted us with whiskey but not muskets, we did in fact knap the bottoms of bottles and jugs as has been found in the archeological record. That said, many people wouldn't bother with stone points because you can find unfinished broken quartz points here as often as finished points. Also, lots of spalling discarded because imperfections were revealed upon a strike. Being a modern Native I've become just as frustrated as my ancestors were, I imagine, and I honestly don't bother with knapping. Deer femurs make wicked points. Cow bones from the pet store, since white people made sure all the bison and elks in the east are gone, makes great knife blades. A large leg from an alligator will too.

[@chickencharlie1992]

Love this guy, really knows how to make his ....point..... I'll see myself out

[@torfinnzempel6123]

It is good to see that he/his team did experiments with Balistic gell, but maybe they could have had expert javaliner's throw the spears at pig or deer carcasses to see how they would fare when bones play a factor like the ribs

[@Adam-wl8wn]

That original video was such a stupidly simple answer to this question, I can't believe nobody, myself included had thought of this! Mind blowing.

[@FrogInPot]

Although with all due respect the Handaxe looks good, you can easily make out the drill holes in the timber. I recommend he use a hot scolding iron rod or blowtorch to both smooth off the mortise, simultaneously harden and increase its appeal.

[@Michael-jx9bh]

Another thing about trees in cold climates: Softwoods - like pine - may be harder when growing in cold climates as the yearly growth is less - as in the rings are closer together. The amount of usable wood to harvest is also less making it even more precious. Just wanna point out one can't necessarily evaluate the wood based on modern timber grown in temperate climates.

[@Albukhshi]

@ 12:37 I would have thought these were thrown as one throws an atl-atl dart. Or do perforated batons postdate the Aurignacian?

[@92656trw]

I find it a bit creepy, when he shows only the whites of his eyes. Is this a lecture or an exorcism?

[@danielcadwell9812]

I was about to comment about that as well but thought I'd look to see if someone else had.

[@brontome]

this dude rolls his eyes unlike any other

[@moocyfarus8549]

.... I find this most disturbing because now I know how I look when I roll my eyes up to remember things.. Omg....

[@williamgillott8918]

Amazing

[@mickdipiano8768]

Btw Dr. Bragg sykes books released yesterday. Mine should be here soon.

[@mathiascaspersen1606]

Where do you get those cool animations of prehistoric people from

[@IAmAStreamerToo]

You got a PHD for that information... wow.... Just... wow.

[@jakel8627]

Got a Google Pixel 6 ad before watching this. I wonder if I should buy it...

[@Dusty357]

Do you think that this is the reason why the UK isn’t full of arrow heads made from high silica content materials as like the USA have do you think that this was practiced here in the uk

[@drbigmdftnu]

Quite interesting. Wouldn't intuitively think of the shaft as being more valuable/precious than the point, but makes a lot of sense. Who invented the barb? The atlatl? The bow and arrow? Really complex thinking

[@Schralenberger]

Poplar is good for basically one thing: Canoes. Most N.American Dugouts(as opposed to hide or bark canoes) were made of tulip poplar( Gum tree) . Most Algonquian tribes referred to it as canoe trees. While not the only wood used by far, except fo r the west coast, and their preference for cedar.

[@andypanda4927]

@12:30 - ". . . A really fast throw. . ." - an exceptionally fast throw might approach 90 mph or 130 or so FPS. Watched a few vids of people using Atlata to cast their dart, one into a deer carcass. Got a pass through of the dart tip, think it was HuntPrimitive, maybe. Do know he did a bison hunt in one vid. Haven't seen bone or antler used to test. Someone in Siberia around 30k yrs ago used bone with micro-flakes? Glued with resin? Aligned into a groove in the antler/bone. Don't recall if that was affixed to a shaft or something inserted into a shaft. Recollection of details vague of some PBS NOVA documentary.

[@Alsatiagent]

I'd like to learn about the development of ballistics gel.

[@RhodeIslandWildlife]

Dr Dilly seems very knowledgeable, but if I have to watch him roll his eyes one more time we're going to find out weather antler or stone tips get better penetration.

[@dougsinthailand7176]

Stone points break easily. I am sure that this is part of the answer.

[@jadetamplin9150]

I was also thinking antler would perhaps be lighter than stone, easier to weild?

[@J_n..]

Antler was probably easier to geht ...

[@kevbee8325]

Antler is easier to re use again, especially the way they were shaped. Wood would be prone to splitting unless the grain ran at right angles to the spear shaft but that would invest too many calories to make and the time period was prior to wider stone tool use post permafrost and softer ground. Similar to the Inuit and Sami?

[@toamaori]

my thought also... if you miss and your spear hits the ground a brittle flint tip will easily break

[@Elephantine999]

I love the Ancient Craft Replica Shop! I want an Iceman dagger and axe! (None of that antler stuff for me!)

[@RedStefan]

How much difference there is between Aurignacian and Cro-Magnon?

[@raccoonresident5760]

My research shows that the split tip antler/bone spear tips were designed to fracture when it was injected into the musculature .....therefore keeping the wound open......this does a few things, but if the animal gets away, it would bleed out quicker as it kept the wound wide open as opposed to a shaft where the skin and flesh want to close around it. The researcher must have been using points picked up off the ground....which is why it was on the ground.....those who use spear points today.....using a spear in ballistic gel without bone structure just shows how the spear goes into flesh, most animals have bones...therefore the spear hits flesh, goes to bone then fragments....

[@gooner72]

@ 13:50 in the video....... that's why we have the same design on the bayonets we use in the British Army, to let the blood out and stop the weapon plugging the wound. It sounds gruesome but you don't think about it when you train to use the bayonets. Same technology, just thousands of years between the two times in history.

[@TheFrugalMombot]

Wouldn’t they have used dehydrated animal dung for fire like many indigenous cultures do to this day? I’m not sure if that would be possible in that weather, but I’m curious. There’s a cave in northern Illinois that maintains around 55+ even during the harshest part of winter. Were there caves they could have had some refuge? I think I remember one of your videos being about some bodies found in a cave, but I’ve watched so many since finding your channel they’re blurring together a bit. I don’t remember where it was unfortunately. I’m enjoying your channel, though. Thank you for making this so easily digestible. I was already falling prey to some more questionable videos in my eagerness to learn this part of history and I was glad to see you had some good videos setting the record straight and with such poise and academic rigor and without being nasty to these people or their followers. So many people just go on the attack with no source to back up their claims. I love how carefully every video is researched here. Thank you.

[@richardsheehan6983]

The word "atlatal" still sung about among N.A. Indians. Some of the songs still still include fauna. Thank you I will subscribe. I might learn to spell "arlatl."

[@moocyfarus8549]

Atlatl.

[@sneeringimperialist6667]

There are a lot of places where stone is difficult to find, that can be worked into points. Antler could be found wherever they hunted.

[@xyzsame4081]

Antlers are also more elastic. I think they even figured out a tequnique to use bone shavings as (additional) fuel.

[@leesnyder9144]

Around 6:00 he says all P.H.D's should be a gripe with research. If you look at developing hard science fields (like physics 1880-1935) the experts were the people with very concise and articulate complaints about the modern theory.

[@briangarrow448]

So Jean Auel, author of the Mammoth Hunters, her fictional series was accurate in depicting humans of that period using dung and bone as a fuel source? If I remember correctly she did give credit to some paleolithic researchers in her books.

[@bendover9813]

Goddamn, I think the coolest thing is, the same way humans never lost the knowledge of Fire, we will probably never lose the knowledge of metallurgy either now. We’re in the next stage of human evolution as of ~5-6,000 years ago

[@Schralenberger]

Were antler tipped shafts, primarily stabbing/thrusting spears? I've read that throwing spears, only coincide with stone tips.

[@johnlittle8975]

So these people were going for quality antler points over quantity of mass produced stone points due to scarcity of materials. Makes sense.

[@chrisschell90]

Because antlers are cool!

[@Magister_Sibrandus]

Does Dr. Dilley also produce Flintstones cars?

[@Leon-wz1js]

(Is this a repost? I thought I saw this the other day, yet it only posted today???) I'm curious about that he said the trees were not there, or not the variety believed. I thought paleolithic Europe (granted, a larger time frame than we are talking about if we are talking about homo-sapiens in Europe) was covered in mega-flora. Redwood-like trees. Granted, nothing you could easily make a spear from, but still. While permafrost would curtail new growth, it shouldn't have had any effect on older tree growth. Accordingly, France and the northern Mediterranean was covered in mega-flora up to ancient history, and early Civilization had a problem because they deforested the ancient world using up the older mega-flora for boats, and had to develop the concept of planking to use smaller/younger tree growth. This clashes with one of the older stories that I remember from my youth that prompted my interest in archeology, and such. Granted, again, Trees can grow to "ancient" in only 200-400 years, but I thought mega-flora growth was more prolific in paleolithic Europe.

[@mweskamppp]

Stone tips tend to crack when they hit something hard. A bone or when you miss another stone on the ground. An Antler spear head is very long living.

[@br2485]

Do you make the thumbnail art yourself??

[@greenie2600]

I'm confused. Wasn't this video already posted a while ago?

[@elhombredeoro955]

I almost saw that video, but I had to leave it in between because one of my water buffaloes decided to go in labor.

[@nicelydunwell5681]

They were playing "Flesh, wood, bone" the ancient precursor to "Rock, Paper, Scissors"

[@srofv7805]

I cannot come up with a means with which to attach a stone tip to a wooden shaft without modification of the nothing mechanism. Therefore, I must conclude, and agree that antler was much easier to apply as a tip without endangering the wooden shaft. Furthermore, I could even suggest that one could make a stone tip that was attached to bone that was wrapped around a wooden shaft, giving better penetration, should one be willing to go through the effort.

[@dylanlivingston9629]

Did anyone consider the antler spears were thrown from an atlatl type weapon to create that much penetrating power?

[@Naturalook]

Was the shaft designed to ‘always’ split the antler point, leaving the nasty shards in the animal? -In prison movies the guy always breaks the handcrafted weapon point off inside the inmate he stabs...- Or was it like a shear pin, an intentional sacrificial weak point to save the valuable shaft? Secondly, was the point put on like a ‘tear-off? Or more solidly set? How long does it take to attach a new point? ...seconds? ...minutes? Or overnight to cure new tip glue??? -LOVE the topic- THANKS for another go at it!!!

[@bordenfleetwood5773]

I'm a traditional craftsman, but I haven't read his thesis, so take this with a grain of salt... In most tool construction, including modern stuff, there is a valuable "base" component and a less valuable "sacrificial" component. The base component is always either rare or difficult (also read: expensive) to replace. Based on the interview content and my own experience as a craftsman and marksman, I'd say the split antler setting would indicate a scarcity of usable wood for spear shafts. The tip itself would likely be treated similar to a modern arrowhead: use it until it breaks, but hopefully one shaft will go through many points before it splits. Personally, I was reminded of my leatherworking tools. The steel tools are ALL very specialized and expensive, but we hit them with mallets and mauls. The mallet, therefore, is either rawhide or plastic composite. I can buy a deadblow hammer almost anywhere, or MAKE a wood or leather mallet, but a steel bevel stamp or oblong punch? Not so much. Thus, I'll get a lifetime's use out of my tools, but my best mallet started showing wear after only a few months. (It still has years of use left, but it'll be gone long before the steel is.)

[@Naturalook]

@@bordenfleetwood5773 that is, more or less, what Dr. Dilley was saying... I was most interested in the complexity of the point... the shaft may last years, I would expect, from my own experiences... Were the points a dime a dozen, and always ruptured, like a hollow-point bullet? ...or, would you make a concerted effort to find it, when you butchered the kill?

[@bordenfleetwood5773]

@@Naturalook - Most definitely make a concerted effort to find and keep each point. They likely weren't "cheap" per sé, but they could be crafted. Again, I'll use a modern craftsman's mallet as an example: it's a critical piece of equipment, and even though I have several, I will definitely notice when one breaks or is lost. With something like an antler point on a spear or javelin, I imagine it would be similar. They take work to make, and are very valuable, but in the end, the point CAN be replaced, but with a scarcity of wood, the shaft may not be. From that perspective, I think the production of a labor-intensive but ultimately sacrificial spearpoint makes sense. Not something to throw away casually, but if it breaks or is lost, it's not the end of the world.

[@squatch545]

I'm confused, is it called Knap Time or Ancient Craft?

[@maxcrowe3900]

Ok, so just a guess. It maybe that antler spear/arrow points were considered best for certain kinds of prey/targets? Magical thinking ?

[@zeideerskine3462]

One may think that the people of the aurignacien may have had an aversion to the blood of their prey for some reason. The biggest difference using such antler points would be that they bleed out the prey quickly.

[@raphlvlogs271]

is antelope horn good for making spears?

[@tortron]

Horns are keratin (like hair/fingernails) over a bone base, antlers are all bone. Ive never made a spear from them, but in my experience with horns they are too soft/fibrous. Try a piece of bone or tooth. Keep the horn for a trumpet though, you can attract deer with it. But in saying that, i understand there are lots of examples of goat or antelope horn spears

[@kennethmikaelsson7990]

Think that the sup lie of good stone (flint chert) have some play to...