Harpoon head · Upper Palaeolithic
Magdalenian harpoon
16000–12000 BCE, Magdalenian
The Magdalenian harpoon is the barbed antler point of late Upper Palaeolithic western Europe, about 16,000 to 12,000 years ago, used for fishing and hunting. Single-row and double-row barbed forms mark the later Magdalenian phases. It is a museum object from excavated shelters.
| Object | Harpoon head |
|---|---|
| Dates | 16000–12000 BCE |
| Period | Upper Palaeolithic |
| Cultures | Magdalenian |
| Regions | Europe — Western & Central |
Diagnostic traits
Antler point with one or two rows of barbs and a basal swelling or perforation for the line.
Identification
Magdalenian harpoons have one or two rows of barbs and a basal swelling or perforation for the line, unlike Aurignacian and Gravettian points, which are unbarbed, and Mesolithic harpoons, which are flatter and often bone. Engraved lines sometimes decorate the shaft. Antler is the material.
Reproductions and fakes
Forged since the nineteenth century in old bone and antler with steel-tool cuts; genuine barbs are cut with flint and show V-section grooves and patina inside. Any privately offered harpoon needs expert examination.
Cite this article
Stratum Study. "Magdalenian harpoon" (Artifact type). Stratum Study pack 2026.09, as of 2026-09-21. https://stratum.black/study/types/magdalenian-harpoon. Accessed 2026-09-21.
@misc{stratum-magdalenian-harpoon,
title = {Magdalenian harpoon},
author = {{Stratum Study}},
howpublished = {\url{https://stratum.black/study/types/magdalenian-harpoon}},
year = {2026},
note = {Artifact type article, Stratum Study pack 2026.09, as of 2026-09-21; sources: stratum. Accessed 2026-09-21.}
} Citations carry the pack version and the article's as-of date so they resolve to the same text later. The facts themselves belong to the sources listed below; cite those for the science.