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Ancient Learning Page
When studying the ancient past many tools are used to try to learn how the ancients lived and used their implements. When a clue actually survives it is very exciting because it takes a lot of the guessing out of archeology. Shown here(private collection) is a dart point with the pitch still on the point. Whether the point was bound with sinew or not is not known but the strength of the pitch could have possible been strong enough to hold the point in place as it pierced the animals hide. There Two photos shown of the same piece. I tried to lighten one but it pixilated. The other is darker but clearer.
Below is the photo of a Langtry point on display at the Witte museum showing the point hafted definitely using pitch only. The stem of a Langtry point would lend itself to this type hafting where let's say a Pedernales point, because of its basal structure would probably have to have been tied with sinew and glued with pitch also.
Below is a hafted Covington blade from the Witte museum. It was found in Pecos river cave still intact showing how a lot of the stone tools we find might have been hafted. The binding appears to be from the fiber of the Lechuguilla plant.
