Deer Toe Points

[tomclark]

From a Woodland midden Central Gulf Coastal FL Would make poor points imhop when they had good knappable stone...

 

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[H.P.]

I’ve wondered that very same thing, the middens are water sites, so maybe they were in some way used to hunt a special something that lived in water...Found in several states it seems to be a well known tool of sorts...And because of deterioration, who knows how many were ever made...Ideas any one?..Thanks Tom...( More of a harpoon type point is my half wild guess.)

 

[newnan man]

I've never seen one before. Probably a lot of things it could have been used for.

 

[Quartzite Keith]

I don't know if they were really arrow points or not. The Jamestown settlers did report that the local Powhatans used a bone tipped arrow specifically to hunt squirrels, but gave no further details. The big problem with stone points is that they break easily. Not something you want for target practice or small game. Not something you want to give the boys! They would lose or break everyone in a day! Also, they had this game where they would shoot at each other and try to jump out of the way of the arrow, so basically dodge ball with arrows!

 

[Fat]

They are really unique that is for sure. I have thought maybe some sort of safety cover?
That game would be like tag with a paint pellet gun. They do leave a mark after the paint is all washed off.
A practice arrow seems like a good idea too. I can imagine someone practicing with nothing hafted. A fletched sharp stick.

 

[H.P.]

They are really unique that is for sure. I have thought maybe some sort of safety cover?
That game would be like tag with a paint pellet gun. They do leave a mark after the paint is all washed off.
A practice arrow seems like a good idea too. I can imagine someone practicing with nothing hafted. A fletched sharp stick.

..

These points were not play toys, they are as sharp as flint and I assure you will go through a hand if pushed...

 

[quito]

I have one somewhere, it’s from South Dakota

I’ll try n put up a pic of mine later.

I know Joshua Ream has a couple.

 

[quito]

Also, to set the record straight, these come from the deers hock, or dew claws, not the toe.

 

[tomclark]

unmodified deer phalanges

 

[tomclark]

This one not from a toe. Ichetucknee River, FL

 

[Quartzite Keith]

I looked up the reference from Jamestown. William Strachey in "History of Travel", chapter 8: "Their arrows are made of straight young sprigs which they head with bone two or three inches long; these they us to shoot at squirrels and all kind of fowl."

If found in shell middens, maybe for shooting ducks?

 

[Fat]

Is that “ not a toe “ black color from brackish water? Thats what old bone turns to here, that over all appearance , really hard and polished

 

[quito]

 

[IMAUDIGGER]

Maybe a light tip for a faster arrow suitable to small fast moving animals? Makes sense to me.

 

[T.C.]

They look like they would be great for a leather punch. Built in thumb cradle. JMHO

 

[The Grim Reaper]

I have literally found hundreds of these Deer Toes and have never seen one that was altered in any way. Very cool piece Tom. In my area we find Deer Antler Arrowpoints made from Tines off the Antler.

Here's some of my better ones.

 

[H.P.]

I looked up the reference from Jamestown. William Strachey in "History of Travel", chapter 8: "Their arrows are made of straight young sprigs which they head with bone two or three inches long; these they us to shoot at squirrels and all kind of fowl."

If found in shell middens, maybe for shooting ducks?

If I was gonna make an arrow to Knock a squirrel out of a tree it would look something like this ( tip is exaggerated for explanation purposes)..as far as ducks, I’m certain that used nets or some other method, c’mon give these folks some credit, they taught the Pilgrims how to survive, y the way have a nice thanksgiving everyone.

 

[H.P.]

I looked up the reference from Jamestown. William Strachey in "History of Travel", chapter 8: "Their arrows are made of straight young sprigs which they head with bone two or three inches long; these they us to shoot at squirrels and all kind of fowl."

If found in shell middens, maybe for shooting ducks?

If I was gonna make an arrow to Knock a squirrel out of a tree it would look something like this ( tip is exaggerated for explanation purposes)..as far as ducks, I’m certain that used nets or some other method, c’mon give these folks some View attachment 1882068 credit, they taught the Pilgrims how to survive, y the way have a nice thanksgiving everyone.

 

[IMAUDIGGER]

If I was gonna make an arrow to Knock a squirrel out of a tree it would look something like this ( tip is exaggerated for explanation purposes)..as far as ducks, I’m certain that used nets or some other method, c’mon give these folks some View attachment 1882068 credit, they taught the Pilgrims how to survive, y the way have a nice thanksgiving everyone.

Your describing a “blunt”...and not the kind some people smoke.
Many cultures used very small blow darts to take squirrels out of a tree...so many things would work if your clever enough.

 

[quito]

My understanding was and I could be wrong, the toe bones were about 2 inches long, and the dew claw bones one inch.
they are commonly know as arrow points up here.