Katanda Bone Harpoon Point

Modern humans make special tools for fishing

Humans in Central Africa used some of the earliest barbed points, like this harpoon point, to spear huge prehistoric catfish weighing as much as 68 kg (150 lb)–enough to feed 80 people for two days. Later, humans used harpoons to hunt large, fast marine mammals.

Image Credit: Chip Clark, Smithsonian Institution

Exhibit item