Barbed and tanged arrowhead

Snail Down, nr Netheravon This Bronze Age arrowhead was found in the ͚Hunter͛s Barrow͛ in the Snail Down barrow cemetery near Netheravon. At the centre of the barrow was a cremation burial, surrounded by deer antlers. Amongst the cremated bones were 5 barbed and tanged arrowheads. Above the cremation was the body of a dog. The barrow was excavated 200 years ago by William Cunnington, who says that the burial show that this man͛s ͞skill as a hunter; and the bones of the dog deposited in the same grave, and above those of his master, commemorate his faithful attendant in the chase͟These barbed and tanged arrowheads were carefully designed. Once the point had pierced the flesh. The barbs meant that the arrowhead would not fall out, meaning that if the arrow did not succeed in killing an animal outright, then it might die from the loss of blood. The tang was used to secure the arrowhead onto a slot on the wooden shaft. Caption: David Dawsone (Wiltshire Museum)