Lucky find gives archeologists glimpse into early hunting technology in Yukon

[Thomas D'Arcy McGee]

Lucky find gives archaeologists glimpse into early hunting technology in Yukon

Copper end blade, found in 2016, was recently dated at 936 years old
By Mike Rudyk, CBC News Posted: Jan 13, 2018 11:00 AM CT Last Updated: Jan 13, 2018 11:00 AM CT


Yukon archeologist Greg Hare says it was just luck that led him in 2016 to find a nearly 1,000-year-old hunting artifact, half exposed in a remote patch of ice.

Recent radiocarbon dating confirms that the arrow blade point is one of the earliest examples of copper metallurgy ever found in Yukon.

Hare was travelling with a documentary film crew over the ice patches near Carcross, Yukon, in July 2016 when they spotted some caribou on a hillside. Hare had been showing the crew some of sites where he and other archaeologists have been finding ancient First Nations hunting weapons over the last 20 years.

They were flying in two helicopters, and Hare's helicopter decided to land to get out of the film crew's shot. While waiting on the ice patch, Hare and his team spotted an antler arrow point half buried in the ice. It looked like it had just been fired from a bow.

 

[Robert Nicholson]

Nice! The center of the blade has a ridge indicating a strong center. I would have thought that was a spear tip because of the antler barbing.

 

[kc34]

Nice! The center of the blade has a ridge indicating a strong center. I would have thought that was a spear tip because of the antler barbing.

I was thinking the same thing. I can't really get a good idea on the scale from the picture?
Either way a very impressive find for sure!

 

[Longwalker]

I really like reports of this sort. Thanks!

 

[Bland]

Pretty unique find. Not exactly 'stone age' either. Would it have been a trade item? It also reinforces the idea we should all pay attention especially when we are above tree line. The generalized glacial recession we are seeing in the mountains could open up some pretty neat finds. There is an Arctic bush pilot whose name escapes me, that was doing an interview and he mentioned he knows where there are some pretty unique archaeological locations. He has not revealed them because they would get ruined.

 

[Robert Nicholson]

Upon closer scrutiny of the arrow shaft, in the CBC site, I can confirm it has real good barbing.

The article mentions that the bow was a somewhat recent acquisition for Amerindians. They used throwing darts instead.
If they mean the throwing lever and small spear that they display and demonstrate at the Beringia Museum in Whitehorse, I can
confirm the effectiveness of the set-up! Or rather my wife can, she was able to hit the target with a solid whack when trying it.

 

[Grizzly Adams]

A connection to the Vikings, present in the eastern Arctic at that time ?

Grizz

 

[VanIsleCam]

I'm interested to know whether this is copper tip with extended bone to penetrate and the wood haft has rotted away?

 

[Robert Nicholson]

I'm interested to know whether this is copper tip with extended bone to penetrate and the wood haft has rotted away?

I believe you are correct. The article shows a different picture that makes clear how short a length of barbed bone was attached to the arrow-head.

 

[geologist]

Pre-Colombian North America had copper working capability. They mined native copper exposed by the glaciation (global warming's fault) which did not require smelting to work into usable tools by hammering and heating.

No Vikings needed.....

 

[rhino519]

Upon closer scrutiny of the arrow shaft, in the CBC site, I can confirm it has real good barbing.

The article mentions that the bow was a somewhat recent acquisition for Amerindians. They used throwing darts instead.
If they mean the throwing lever and small spear that they display and demonstrate at the Beringia Museum in Whitehorse, I can
confirm the effectiveness of the set-up! Or rather my wife can, she was able to hit the target with a solid whack when trying it.

do you mean atl-atl?

 

[elimsprint]

I was going to say atlatl dart rather than arrow as soon as I saw the picture. I don't see how that would fly worth s**t from a bow but could be chucked really well with an atlatl. They say the design for the atlatl came across the Bering Sea Land Bridge long ago so the Yukon makes sense.

 

[powdermaker]

Interesting article. Thanks for posting!

 

[Robert Nicholson]

To clarify my earlier comments: The CBC article states that this is part of an arrow, shot from a bow. The article goes on to mention the atlatl (sp.?)

 

[trevj]

To clarify my earlier comments: The CBC article states that this is part of an arrow, shot from a bow. The article goes on to mention the atlatl (sp.?)

Well, about what you should expect from a Journalism Major. Parrot along the words provided to them, plus misunderstand the general concept and write a bunch of misunderstood stuff into the story to go with.

Now, if they would start hiring based on spelling and grammar capabilities again, it'd be kind of a nice change...

 

[Superbrad]

To clarify my earlier comments: The CBC article states that this is part of an arrow, shot from a bow. The article goes on to mention the atlatl (sp.?)

Well, about what you should expect from a Journalism Major. Parrot along the words provided to them, plus misunderstand the general concept and write a bunch of misunderstood stuff into the story to go with.

Now, if they would start hiring based on spelling and grammar capabilities again, it'd be kind of a nice change...

That is the correct spelling of atlatl......