Palaeolithic Animal Bone Harpoon from the Cave Mas d’Azil

Culture: Western Europe

Period: Upper Paleolithic, Azilian, 12000-9600 B.C.

Material: Bone

Dimensions: 8 cm long

Price: 4 800 Euro

Ref: 5278

Provenance: From the collection of the French entrepreneur and pre-historian Claude Douce (born 1937). Accompanied by a French antiquities passport.

Condition: Broken in the middle and reattached. Minor missing part at the end, where the harpoon was connected with the shaft through a perforation.

Description: Large harpoon made of animal bone which originates from the famous cave Mas d’Azil. Due to numerous pre-historic finds, especially elaborate hunting tools, the cave in southwestern France became already famous in the 19th century and gave its name to the Azilian culture. The present harpoon was carved out from an animal bone and has on each side five barbs in addition to the actual spike. The harpoon was particularly used for fishing, whereby after penetration the harpoon detached itself from the shaft, and due to the barbs remained in the animal's body. This prevented the prey from escaping. The harpoon itself remained connected to the shaft via a cord or a long strap, which then allowed the hunter to pull the prey out.