Harpoon types

Thule harpoon types are used to date archaeological occupations. Open-sockets of the earlier Thule type 2 were bound over with sinew, gut or hide to hold the harpoon foreshaft. The foreshaft was socketted to the main shaft, which held a line connecting the hole in the harpoon head with a coil held by the harpooner, so that he could retrieve the sea mammal. Closed or normal sockets in antler harpoon heads are later Thule type 3. Both have a large barb along one edge that causes the head to toggle edgeways beneath the hide of the animal, effectively securing it from coming off the harpoon head. Link: Harpoon Heads.

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