why bird points?

[larson1951]

why are arrow heads called 'bird' points?
around the dakotas these arrow heads were used for buffalo, elk, deer, bear, etc.
i know that turkeys were also hunted as their bones were perfect for making beads and whistles
i have seen some buffalo skulls with arrow points stuck in them
anybody know why?
larson1951

 

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[diggummup]

I think they just call the smaller ones that out of a common usage of the term. Point size has nothing to do with prey size.

 

[SwampHunter]

Everyone I know has always called them Bird Points. I grew up calling them that too. I know they were not made just for birds but since that's what we always called them that's what sticks with them.
I am curious about the real tiny ones. I have some that look like they should have been hafted onto toothpicks.
I figure there are a lot of items that served different purposes from what we call them.

 

[Rege-PA]

Here in PA and Ohio the small triangular points of the Fort Ancient and Monongahela culture were used for everything from birds to Elk and warfare. These were true arrow points, extremely sharp, the smaller point took less energy to penetrate into the vitals from the hardwood bows of that time. I think people mix up cultures and when finding both on a multi culture site think that the smaller points were used for smaller animals and the larger ones for big game, when in reality the larger ones were from atlatls which pre dated the bow.

 

[boris]

bird points

Here in PA and Ohio the small triangular points of the Fort Ancient and Monongahela culture were used for everything from birds to Elk and warfare. These were true arrow points, extremely sharp, the smaller point took less energy to penetrate into the vitals from the hardwood bows of that time. I think people mix up cultures and when finding both on a multi culture site think that the smaller points were used for smaller animals and the larger ones for big game, when in reality the larger ones were from atlatls which pre dated the bow.

In Massachusetts the small ones are called this, according to a gratuitous assumption of Gramps. The real treasure was the hen turkey on my lawn Saturday, before I went looking, the Ocean tends to wear them down unless quartz. I have one I am sure is Clovis. I am sure the makers did practice just as we do today. I hope you see an albino bison.

 

[PrimitiveOne]

I believe that earlier treasure hunters assumed that because they were so small they weren't capable of taking large game. Allot of arrows were made of just fire hardened points that would resemble the end of a pencil. Because of natural decay these are never found. They are capable of killing any animal but because of the size of the hole there was hardly any blood and arrowheads caused more severe tissue damage and made it easier to trail a wounded animal.

 

[old digger]

Here in PA and Ohio the small triangular points of the Fort Ancient and Monongahela culture were used for everything from birds to Elk and warfare. These were true arrow points, extremely sharp, the smaller point took less energy to penetrate into the vitals from the hardwood bows of that time. I think people mix up cultures and when finding both on a multi culture site think that the smaller points were used for smaller animals and the larger ones for big game, when in reality the larger ones were from atlatls which pre dated the bow.

Likewise agree.

 

[d2]

I think some of the tiny "bird" points down here in southern Arkansas and places were used as darts in blowguns...d2

 

[larson1951]

thanks for the info
i did not know about any blowguns however
larson1951

 

[RGINN]

I had wondered about the blowgun dart deal. I know the Cherokees used blowguns, but have pretty much come to the conclusion points weren't hafted onto the darts. Some tribes would find the 'bird points' in historic times and believe they belonged to a race of extinct little people.

 

[SOHIO]

Some tribes would find the 'bird points' in historic times and believe they belonged to a race of extinct little people.

thats exactly where i thought bird points were from . lol

 

[SOHIO]

i have seen some buffalo skulls with arrow points stuck in them
anybody know why?
larson1951

2 all "buffalo" patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles on a sesame bun ??

 

[Get-the-point]

2 all "buffalo" patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles on a sesame bun ??

And please add extra Arrowheads!!!.................good topic!!

 

[rdavidson]

Around my neck of the woods (middle Georgia) any point 1/2 inch in length or smaller a bird point. I have some that are 1/4 inch long. A bird point was used for birds or small a mammal such as rabbit or squirrel. My uncle found a field once where all he found was small bird points. He found 20 or more perfect points with the notchs for hafting.

 

[diggummup]

Some tribes would find the 'bird points' in historic times and believe they belonged to a race of extinct little people.

That's freakin hilarious.
The truth of the matter is, a bird point is called a bird point because once upon a time before we knew any better, the belief was that something so small must have been used to hunt birds. The truth is that they were common points of the day and that they were as deadly to men as they were to birds as many an Englishman would discover.

Here is an interesting post about tiny african bird points that were used in warfare and the skeletons that prove it. Interesting read- Bird Points from Africa