Hafted points and their functional interpretation on the basis of their horizontal distribution at the Neolithic site of Arbon Bleiche 3 (3384-3370 BC), Switzerland

Hafted points made of animal bone or red deer antler are found regularly in Neolithic lake dwelling sites from Switzerland. The site of Arbon Bleiche 3 has yielded 223 of such points which belong to three different types: points with a flat smoothed base made of long bones (type 1/10), double-points made of long bones (type 2/1) and double-points made of ribs (type 2/2). Because of the excellent preservation of the single occupation layer and their very precise dating to only 15 years (3384 - 3370 BC) the double-points’ spatial distribution and statistical analysis allow some interpretation of their use. Specimens of the types 1/10 and 2/1 with a length below 70mm were used as arrow heads. The ones over 70mm more likely represent tools. Type 2/2 artefacts were mostly used as fish hooks. Exploratory procedures such as correspondence analysis corroborate these interpretations.