SOLUTREAN LAUREL-
LEAF POINT
UPPER PALEOLITHIC
FRANCE, SPAIN & PORTUGAL

EST. 21,000 TO 18,000 YEARS AGO
COPYRIGHT DECEMBER 31, 2007 PETER A. BOSTROM
AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY COLLECTION
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    This laurel-leaf point was found on the Le Ruth rock shelter site on the Vezere River in southwestern France. The Solutrean industry is characterized by several different forms of thin bifaces that have been found on sites in France, Spain and Portugal. Some of the smaller bifaces were hafted onto the ends of spears or darts. Larger laurel-leaf points were used as knives and were probably hafted onto short handles. The largest and most skillfully made bifaces, such as those found in the Volgu cache, were probably used for some type of ritual purpose.
   It's likely that this laurel-leaf point was once used as a knife. It was made by reducing the preform down to its present thinness with percussion flaking and trimming the edges with pressure flaking. It was made from a light colored opaque chert that has become heavily patinated. It measures 5 7/8 inches (13 cm) long, 2 1/8 inches (5.4 cm) wide and 3/8 inch (.9 cm) thick.

Large laurel-leaf point from southwestern France.

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