Native Americans used spears as both weapons and status symbols.
Native Americans used spears for hunting, fishing, warfare and as ceremonial objects. A spear ranged from 5 to 10 feet in length, depending on its intended use, with a wooden shaft topped off by an arrowhead or spear point. Most spears were decorated with leather, feathers or animal fur as either a functional necessity (hand grips) or as a sign of the user's rank and accomplishments. The material used for the tip varied depending on the tribe and where the tribe lived, according to Native Net.org. Spear points were most commonly made of copper, flint and obsidian.
Copper
Copper spear points replaced stone in the upper Midwest.
Copper mines in the Great Lakes region provided Native American metalsmiths the opportunity to make sharp weapons like spear points, arrowheads and knives. Mandrils, or molds, allowed the metalsmiths to hammer and shape the copper into its desired form. These copper weapons were more durable than their stone counterparts and often had double-edged blades. While the majority of copper use was in Wisconsin, Michigan and Ohio, evidence of it has been found throughout America, specifically after European exploration.
Flint
Flint was the most popular material used in Indian spear points.
Flint is the common name for dark pieces of chert, a hard sedimentary rock that breaks into sharp edges. Native Americans used a process called flint knapping, which means shaping the rock by hitting it over and over again with another rock and flaking pieces off to form spear points and arrowheads. People throughout the Americas used flint for tools and weapons because of its durability and abundance. It was also useful for its ability to spark when struck, making fire possible.
Obsidian
Indians in the West used obsidian to make sharp spear points.
Obsidian is black, sharp volcanic glass. It's an igneous rock that forms when lava cools too quickly for atoms to form a crystalline structure. Native Americans used it for tools and weapons because it breaks with a "conchoidal fracture," according to Geology.com, that leaves it smooth and razor sharp. Obsidian is found above the Earth's surface in places with recent volcanic activity, such as the Pacific Northwest. In the United States, no obsidian is found east of the Mississippi River.
Atlatl
The invention of the atlatl (at-la-tal) allowed Native American hunters and warriors to engage their prey or enemies from a distance, thus making it safer than using a spear up close. In Aztec, "atlatl" literally means "spear thrower." The weapon combined a spear and a rope at the end so the user could launch it one-handed. The atlatl had an 18-inch spearhead or a traditional arrowhead that was made from the same materials as regular spear points.
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