More to the Point: Developing a Multi-faceted Approach to Investigating the Curation of Magdalenian Osseous Projectile Points

The majority of osseous projectile points recovered from archaeological sites were intentionally discarded by their owners in prehistory because they were considered no longer usable. This usability being determined by both functional (physical ability to effectively penetrate game) and cultural (ideals about form and efficiency) constraints. While a significant amount of research into Magdalenian osseous projectile points has been undertaken, very few studies have considered the processes which lead to their discard. This paper highlights this underdeveloped avenue of research and outlines potential methods of investigating osseous projectile point reduction and curation.