European Neolithic flint Tanged, Barbed Arrowhead - 25 mm (No reserve price)

"European Neolithic Flint Tanged and Barbed Arrowhead
Culture / Period: European Neolithic – Late Neolithic
Date / Period: 2500–2000 B.C.
Material: Flint
Dimensions: 25 mm
Condition: Good condition.

No shipping outside the European Union. Due to complex export regulations concerning cultural goods, this item cannot be shipped outside the EU. Please ensure you have a delivery address within the European Union before placing a bid.

Provenance information:
Object Registration ID: 997
The current owner (S.N.J. S.) purchased the tanged and barbed arrowhead from H.T. in Emmen, the Netherlands.
The previous owner, H.T. from Emmen, stated that the object had been in his collection since the 1990s.
According to the previous owner, the object had previously formed part of a private collection in the Netherlands since the 1990s.
No further information concerning the earlier ownership history of the object was available from the previous owner.

Background Information:
This finely worked flint arrowhead is attributed to the Late Neolithic period, approximately 2500–2000 B.C. It features a triangular blade, two carefully formed barbs and a central tang designed for attachment to a wooden arrow shaft. The symmetrical shape and finely retouched edges demonstrate the technical skill of prehistoric flintworkers.

During the Late Neolithic, archery played an important role in hunting and possibly warfare. Flint arrowheads were practical tools, while carefully manufactured examples could also carry symbolic significance. Similar projectile points are known from settlements and burial contexts across prehistoric Europe.

The production of such arrowheads required considerable craftsmanship. Flint was shaped through controlled percussion and pressure flaking, allowing the maker to create sharp cutting edges, a pointed tip and a secure hafting arrangement. The barbs could help retain the arrowhead after impact, while the tang facilitated its attachment to the shaft.

Tanged and barbed arrowheads are particularly associated with the later phases of the Neolithic and the transition towards the Early Bronze Age. They occur across several European archaeological traditions, including the Bell Beaker horizon, which developed extensive cultural connections between communities in western and central Europe. Their distribution reflects shared technological knowledge and the movement of materials, objects and ideas across prehistoric societies.

This arrowhead provides a direct and tangible connection to the people of prehistoric Europe, whose knowledge of stoneworking and practical tool production formed an essential part of everyday life thousands of years ago."