Description
Genuine Bronze Age Barbed and Tanged Flint Arrowhead
This carefully chosen archaeological artefact is a genuine Bronze Age barbed and tanged flint arrowhead dating to approximately 2500–1500 BC. It was found in Leeds, West Yorkshire, United Kingdom, in 2005 and subsequently formed part of an old collection.
The distinctive barbed and tanged form is one of the most recognisable projectile-point designs associated with later prehistoric Britain. A central tang projects from the base to assist attachment to a wooden arrow shaft, while the two lateral barbs extend on either side. These carefully formed elements created a secure hafting arrangement and helped the stone point remain embedded after impact.
Although “arrowhead” is an appropriate description for this characteristic artefact type, archaeologists also use the broader term projectile point when discussing worked stone points in general.
The listing photographs show the actual carefully selected specimen you will receive. This is not a stock photograph or a representative example. Please examine the images for the surviving tip, tang, barbs, flake scars, edge preparation, geological colour, patination and overall condition. Full sizing is shown in the photographs.
Bronze Age Date and Archaeological Period
The supplied date range of approximately 2500–1500 BC places this artefact within the Bronze Age of Britain. This was a period of major technological, social and economic change, during which metalworking became increasingly important while flint continued to be used for many practical tools and weapons.
The introduction of copper and bronze did not immediately replace established stone-working traditions. Flint remained widely available, highly effective and familiar to skilled craftspeople. Sharp cutting tools, scrapers, knives and projectile points continued to be manufactured alongside metal objects.
Barbed and tanged arrowheads are closely associated with the transition from the Late Neolithic into the Early Bronze Age. Their carefully balanced forms demonstrate both technical refinement and a strong awareness of the requirements of hafted archery equipment.
Barbed and Tanged Arrowhead Design
A barbed and tanged arrowhead normally has a pointed body, a central basal tang and two projecting barbs. The tang was inserted into a split or prepared socket at the end of a wooden shaft.
The barbs flanked the haft and helped stabilise the attachment. They may also have increased the difficulty of removing the projectile after penetration.
The shape required considerable planning because the tang and barbs had to be produced without snapping the thin stone. The maker needed to maintain sufficient thickness for strength while creating a light and aerodynamically suitable projectile head.
The design is more complex than a simple triangular point. Its manufacture required controlled shaping of the body, careful thinning of both faces and precise finishing around the vulnerable basal projections.
Flint Geology and Material Composition
Flint is a dense, fine-grained siliceous rock composed predominantly of microscopic quartz crystals. It commonly occurs as nodules, lenses or irregular bands within chalk and other carbonate-rich sedimentary rocks.
The silica developed within ancient marine sediments through geological and chemical processes. Over immense periods of time, it became concentrated into hard stone capable of producing sharp and predictable fracture surfaces.
Flint can occur in shades of black, grey, brown, cream or blue-grey, sometimes with mottling, banding or mineral inclusions. Its original outer surface may retain cortex, the weathered rind that formed around the nodule before prehistoric working began.
Burial and environmental exposure can produce patination, mineral staining and colour alteration. The exact geological colouring, translucency and surface character of this individual Leeds specimen can be assessed in the listing photographs.
Conchoidal Fracture and Flint Knapping
Flint was selected because it fractures conchoidally. When force is applied at a suitable angle, it breaks along smooth, curved surfaces rather than splitting unpredictably along crystal planes.
The arrowhead may have begun as a carefully selected flake or small blank. Initial shaping would have involved the removal of larger flakes to establish the outline and reduce unnecessary thickness.
Further work was then required to refine both faces, sharpen the margins and form the tang and barbs. This could be achieved through fine percussion and pressure flaking.
Pressure flaking involved pressing an antler, bone or wooden tool against the edge until a small flake detached. This method provided the control needed to shape narrow projections and regularise the margins without removing excessive material.
The surviving negative scars on the artefact represent individual flakes removed during manufacture. Together, they preserve a visible record of the prehistoric knapper’s working sequence.
Hafting and Arrow Construction
The flint arrowhead formed only one component of a complete composite weapon. It would have been attached to a carefully prepared wooden shaft, possibly within a split end or a carved socket.
The central tang would have fitted into the shaft, while natural adhesive could have helped secure the stone. Resin, plant gum or tar may have been used, with sinew, rawhide or plant-fibre bindings wrapped around the joint for additional strength.
The shaft itself required careful straightening and balancing. Fletching made from feathers could stabilise the arrow during flight, while the stone point concentrated impact force at the tip.
Most organic components decay under normal archaeological conditions. The durable flint arrowhead therefore survives as evidence of a more complex weapon made from several different materials.
Possible Function and Use
A barbed and tanged arrowhead was designed as a hafted projectile point. Its sharp tip concentrated force on impact, while the worked lateral edges could contribute a cutting action.
Such arrows may have been used in hunting and potentially in conflict. Archery allowed a projectile to be delivered from a distance, reducing the need for close contact with dangerous animals or opponents.
Damage to the tip, barbs or tang could occur during use, recovery or rehafting. Ancient edge losses and fractures can therefore form part of an arrowhead’s working history.
The relatively small size of a flint point should not be mistaken for technological simplicity. Effective performance depended on the combined shape, weight, hafting angle and balance of the complete arrow.
Leeds and West Yorkshire Provenance
This artefact was found in Leeds, West Yorkshire, in 2005. The recorded locality places it within a region containing river valleys, upland routes, fertile lowlands and long-established prehistoric activity.
The wider Leeds landscape is crossed by the River Aire and its tributaries, creating natural corridors for movement and access to water, animals and plant resources. Prehistoric communities could travel through these valleys while hunting, exchanging materials and moving between occupation areas.
A barbed and tanged arrowhead from this region provides direct evidence of Bronze Age stone-tool technology in the West Yorkshire landscape. The recorded find location and year contribute valuable modern provenance to the specimen.
Archaeological Significance
Barbed and tanged arrowheads are important examples of specialised prehistoric craftsmanship. Their complex outline required more control than a basic flake tool, particularly around the fragile tang and barbs.
The artefact reflects a chain of decisions beginning with the selection of suitable flint. The maker then had to prepare the blank, shape both faces, establish symmetry and create a base suitable for secure hafting.
These arrowheads also illustrate the continued importance of flint during the Bronze Age. Even as metal objects became more widespread, stone remained a practical and effective material for producing sharp projectile points.
The specimen represents both a functional tool and a surviving connection with the people who lived, travelled and hunted in prehistoric Yorkshire.
Ex Old Collection Provenance
The arrowhead was found in Leeds, West Yorkshire, in 2005 and later entered an old collection. Its recorded location, discovery year, Bronze Age attribution and artefact type form part of its associated provenance.
The old collection history contributes to the modern biography of the object following its discovery. These details will accompany the actual specimen shown in the photographs.
Actual Specimen and Condition
The exact carefully chosen arrowhead pictured is the artefact supplied. Please use the photographs to assess its full dimensions, thickness, surviving barbs, tang, point, flake scars, geological colour, patination and overall condition.
Ancient edge losses, minor fractures, mineral staining, surface deposits or softened flake ridges may be present. These characteristics form part of the artefact’s individual archaeological appearance and long history.
Certificate of Authenticity
This genuine Bronze Age artefact includes a generic lifetime Certificate of Authenticity guarantee card.
The certificate accompanies the actual specimen shown, making this rare Leeds barbed and tanged flint arrowhead suitable for a British archaeology collection, Bronze Age display, prehistoric archery collection, lithic reference cabinet or museum-style presentation.
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