Fig. 5: Reconstruction of harpoon assemblage.
A Chilean harpoon of type B and B type D, both with foreshafts made of wood, fitted with a bone barb and, in some cases, a stone point (type D); illustration created by the authors of an artefact published in Ballester43. C Hypothetical reconstruction of a Sambaqui harpoon foreshaft with a hafted bevelled bone projectile point (Col. Tiburtius 8400). The barb of this bevelled point is broken and would have originally extended further to allow for effective retention. D Hypothetical reconstruction of a Sambaqui socket-piece assemblage with a bone point and a lateral barb (bevelled bone point). E, F illustrate reconstructions of how both the harpoon foreshafts and socket-pieces likely would have been assembled into a complete harpoon, with the main shaft made of wood and the line made of sinew or plant fibre (based on examples of preserved Chilean harpoons43). Photos and illustrations of harpoons (created using Inkscape 1.2.1) by the authors.
