An Ethnoarchaeological Inquiry into the Functional Relationship between Projectile Point and Armor Technologies of the Northwest Coast

Abstract

Traditional bow, arrow, projectile and armor technologies of the Northwest Coast of North America were identified. Reproductions of these weapons were used to measure the ability of different point styles to penetrate various types of armor. Although chipped stone, ground slate, and bone projectiles revealed an increase in penetration capacity, respectively, they also showed a collateral decrease in durability. While hide, wood, and stone-covered armor reflected an increasing resistance to puncture, they also evidenced a potential decrease in maneuverability. These results suggest that the rising prevalence of highly effective bone points after 400 A.D., as opposed to contemporaneous subsistence technologies that are normally characterized by more durable ground slate artifacts, are indicative of increasing hostilities during the Late Phase. This data helps to discriminate between subsistence and warfare technologies, supporting theories that attribute a more active casual role to conflict during the rise of social complexity.