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Beveled Projectile Points and Ballistics Technology

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Carl P. Lipo ,
Robert C. Dunnell ,
Michael J. O’Brien ,
Veronica Harper  and
John Dudgeon
Carl P. Lipo
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology and IIRMES, California State University Long Beach, 1250 Bellflower Blvd., Long Beach, CA 90840 (clipo@csulb.edu)
Robert C. Dunnell
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762 (deceased)
Michael J. O’Brien
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211
Veronica Harper
Affiliation:
Cardno JF New, 3901 Industrial Boulevard, Indianapolis, IN 46254
John Dudgeon
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, Idaho State University, 921 S. 8th Avenue, Pocatello, ID 83209
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Abstract

Explanations for beveled blade edges on projectile points have been debated in North America archaeology since the first systematic description oflithic assemblages in the nineteenth century. Debate has centered around two opposing perspectives. One views beveled edges as features of projectile points that cause them to spin during flight. The other views beveling as a product of edge resharpening that is done unifacially to conserve scarce resources. Here we use a fluid-dynamics model to simulate the effect beveling has on projectiles. Expectations derived from this modeling are evaluated using windtunnel experiments. Our findings indicate that beveling produces in-flight rotation that serves as a means of increasing accuracy in relatively low-velocity flight paths.

Resumen

Resumen

Las explicaciones para biseló orillas de hoja en puntas de proyectil han sido debatidas en la arqueología de Norteamérica desde la primera descripción sistemática de colecciones de lithic en el siglo XIX. El debate ha concentrado en dos perspectivas opuestas. Uno ve biseló orillas como características de proyectiles que causan ellos girar durante vuelo. La otra perspectiva ve biseles como productos del afilado de orilla que es hecho para conservar unifacially recursos escasos. Para evaluar estas dos vistas, nosotros utilizamos un modelo de la líquido-dinámica para simular el efecto que bisela tiene en proyectiles. Las esperanzas derivadas de esta profesión de modelo son evaluadas utilizar experimentos de túnel aerodinámico. Nuestras conclusiones indican que biselando productos rotación en vuelo y que tal rotación de puntos arrojadizos, que sirve para precisión creciente en relativamente trayectorias de vuelo de bajo-velocidad.

Type
Reports
Information
American Antiquity , Volume 77 , Issue 4 , October 2012 , pp. 774 - 788
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for American Archaeology 2012

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