Article Dans Une Revue Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports Année : 2026

No evidence of bowhunting in Magdalenian antler points: Comment on Langley and Lombard (2025)

Résumé

In the study of prehistoric projectile points, the tip cross-sectional area method (TCSA) is often used to hypothesize about projectile delivery mode. In a recent article, Langley and Lombard applied this method, combined with point mass, to Magdalenian antler points from southwest France. Their results suggest the likelihood of bowhunting at some sites, and one point subtype, the Lussac-Angles point, is particularly highlighted as possible arrow tip because of its low TCSA and mass. However, the methods used in this study underestimate TCSA and mass, particularly when composite weapon tips are considered. Experimental evidence shows that Lussac-Angles points can be used with the spearthrower, and there is also archeological and experimental evidence of use with the spearthrower for fork-based points, another type of Magdalenian antler point that has a TCSA similar to the Lussac-Angles points. These findings refute the evidence of bowhunting in Magdalenian antler points and offer another example of the problems raised by the use of the TCSA method to reconstruct past weapon systems.

Fichier principal
Vignette du fichier
Petillon_Gauvrit_preprint.pdf (3.74 Mo) Télécharger le fichier
Origine Fichiers produits par l'(les) auteur(s)
Licence

Dates et versions

hal-05480290 , version 1 (27-01-2026)

Licence

Identifiants

Citer

Jean-Marc Pétillon, Eugénie Gauvrit Roux. No evidence of bowhunting in Magdalenian antler points: Comment on Langley and Lombard (2025). Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 2026, 70, pp.105598. ⟨10.1016/j.jasrep.2026.105598⟩. ⟨hal-05480290⟩
272 Consultations
78 Téléchargements

Altmetric

Partager

  • More