PAGE 3 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2
THREE SIDED POINTS
NEOLITHIC PERIOD & LATE STONE AGE
NORTHERN EUROPE & PANAMA
PAGE 1 OF 4 PAGES
Three sided blade point from northern Europe.
THREE SIDED BLADE POINT
NEOLITHIC PERIOD
ISLAND OF LOLLAND, DENMARK
 PRIVATE COLLECTION

   This three sided blade point was recovered on a site in northern Europe on the Island of Lolland in Denmark. This arrow point dates to the Neolithic period and was probably made sometime before 2200 B.C. It was made from a long narrow blade that was struck off a prepared core. Two sides and more than half of the third side was skillfully pressure flaked into a three sided point. This arrow point is made of Danish flint and measures 3 11/16 inches (10 cm) long, 1/2 inch (1.2 cm) wide and 1/4 inch ( 6 mm) thick.

    The three sided blade points from northern Europe are the most skillfully manufactured examples of these unique projectile point forms. They evolved from points made on blades during the Middle Neolithic period. The earliest examples were made on blades with points but no stems. Later examples developed the stems and finally, they evolved into the three sided forms.

Three sided blade points from northern Europe.
CLICK ON PICTURE FOR LARGE IMAGE
THREE SIDED BLADE POINTS
NEOLITHIC PERIOD
NORTHERN EUROPE
PRIVATE COLLECTION

   These three arrow points were found on sites in northern Europe. The point in the middle was collected on the island of Lolland in Denmark and the point on the right is also from Denmark. They date to the Neolithic period and were probably made sometime before 2200 B.C. They were all made from blades struck from prepared cores. The blades were then pressure flaked into three sided points. The points on the left and right have tip damage that may be the result of impact fractures from when they were once attached to  arrow shafts. The point on the right also has some damage to the end of the stem. These three points are made from Danish flint. The longest example in the center measures 3 11/16 inches (10 cm) long, 1/2 inch (1.2 cm) wide and 1/4 inch ( 6 mm) thick.

   Three sided blade points were made by the Pitware culture during the Middle Neolithic period, approximately 4,200 years ago. These people lived in settlements along the southern coast and islands of Sweden. The people who made these points lived on fishing, hunting seals and the raising of pigs.

Three Sided blade point from northern Europe.
CLICK ON PICTURE FOR LARGE TRIPLE IMAGE
THREE SIDED BLADE POINT
NEOLITHIC PERIOD
NORTHERN EUROPE
PRIVATE COLLECTION

   This three sided blade point is fully flaked on all three sides and there is an impact fracture on the tip of the point. This arrow point is made of Danish flint and measures 2 5/8 inches (6.6 cm) long and 1/2 inch (1.2 cm) wide.

  Three sided points stand out as a unique flaked stone projectile point design. At least when compared to the multitudes of other forms that have been found on ancient sites around the world. The reason why these two different cultures began making projectile points with three sides will probably never be known. But their design is no more mysterious than other even more complicated forms---such as, for example, Folsom points.

"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.

HOME    ORDERING