AB 512 d, harpoon head and hide rope, Inuit, metal, untanned hide, bone, 3.5 cm, Collection of Glenbow Museum, Calgary, Canada.

Inuit harpoon head and hide rope

Inuit harpoon head and hide rope.

Evidence
The blade of this harpoon head is made from metal set into a bone shaft with a rivet. It is attached to rope made from square flipper seal. These types of spears were designed to be propelled. They would have travelled a good distance depending on the skill of the thrower. The first spear was propelled like a sling shot. A rope with a noose was attached to the hook on the shaft. It would have been used at close range for land animals. The second spear would have been shot from a crossbow. The third spear would have been launched using a bow and the fourth is a hand spear used from a lying position

Perspective
n/a

Significance
This style of harpoon head would have been used for hunting smaller sea mammals. The first spear was propelled like a sling shot. A rope with a noose was attached to the hook on the shaft. It would have been used at close range for land animals. The second spear would have been shot from a crossbow. The third spear would have been launched using a bow and the fourth is a hand spear used from a lying position.