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THREE SIDED POINTS
NEOLITHIC PERIOD & LATE STONE AGE
NORTHERN EUROPE & PANAMA
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Three Sided point from Panama.
THREE SIDED POINT---PANAMA
 PRIVATE COLLECTION

     In 1889 William H. Holmes describes the three sided points from Panama as arrow points. The examples illustrated in this article vary in size from 2 1/16 inches (5.3 cm) long to 3 13/16 inches (9.6 cm) long. The smaller examples may have tipped arrows but the larger ones seem to be more suited as dart (spear) points.

Eight Three Sided points from Panama.
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THREE SIDED POINTS
LATE STONE AGE
PANAMA
PRIVATE COLLECTION

   These eight three sided stemmed points were collected on sites in Panama. William H. Holmes describes these forms of projectile points from an area north of the canal. Three of  the points in this picture are flaked on two sides and have a smooth flake surface on the third side. The other five examples are uniformly flaked on all three sides. The flaking is rough and appears to be mainly done with percussion flaking. The larger examples would probably have been used on the ends of spears and thrown with atlatls (spear throwers). The smallest examples may have been used to tip the ends of arrows. Holmes describes the material they are made from as a flinty jasper of reddish and yellowish hues. The points in this picture range in size from 2 1/16 inches (5.2 cm) long to 3 3/4 inches (9.5 cm) long. 

   Holmes also describes the Panama points as "the workmanship is extremely rude." They don't have the fine pressure flaking that is seen on the three sided blade points from northern Europe. The Panama points are shaped with much more random percussion and pressure flaking. On the positive side, they are very heavy duty points that would probably stand up better than most other forms of projectile points. The examples illustrated here all have needle sharp points.

Three Sided point from Panama.
CLICK ON PICTURE FOR LARGE TRIPLE IMAGE
THREE SIDED POINT
LATE STONE AGE
PANAMA
PRIVATE COLLECTION

   This three sided point appears to be unfinished. The stem has been completed but only one of the blade edges is pressure flaked into shape. The other edge has not been touched. Although it doesn't seem to be a finished point, in the mind of the craftsman who made it, this could be a completed functional projectile point. At least enough has been done to make it work as a projectile point. This point measures 3 inches (7.6 cm) long, 1 5/16 inches (3.3 cm) wide and 9/16 inch (1.4 cm) thick.

   The Panama three sided points have triangular cross sections. Holmes writes "the most striking feature is the triangular section presented in nearly all cases." Some of them are flaked on two sides only. Of the eight finished examples illustrated in this article three of them are flaked on two sides only. The other five are uniformly flaked on all three sides.

Three Sided point from Panama.
CLICK ON PICTURE FOR LARGE TRIPLE IMAGE
THREE SIDED POINT
LATE STONE AGE
PANAMA
PRIVATE COLLECTION

   This large three sided point is flaked on two sides only. The third side is the original flake surface. This is a large point and seems to be to large to have been used on an arrow. It is made of red Jasper and measures 3 9/16 inches (9 cm) long, 1 inch (2.5 cm) wide and 5/8 inch (1.5 cm) wide.

    The three sided points from Panama are made from, as Holmes writes "a flinty jasper of reddish and yellowish hues." The three sided points from Europe were made from a better quality Danish flint.

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"REFERENCES"

1889, Holmes, William H., "Ancient Art of the Province of Chiriqui (Panama)," Vol. 14, Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology, p. 34.
1952, Glob, P.V. "Danish Antiquities, II Late Stone Age," pp. 102-103.

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