Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Shape matters: assessing regional variation of Bell Beaker projectile points in Central Europe using geometric morphometrics

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Despite the large-scale expansion of Bell Beaker phenomenon, there is a tension between the normative Bell Beaker material culture categories and their local objectification in the form of real artefacts. Stone projectile points provide an opportunity to evaluate how much was the general category of such a point influenced by regional and local factors. The aim of this paper is to explore shape and size variation of Central European Bell Beaker projectile points from Moravia (Czech Republic) to elucidate factors responsible for this variation. The sample consists of 194 projectile points from 54 Central European Bell Beaker sites (2500–2300/2200 BC) distributed in Morava River catchment. The size and shape of projectile points were studied by landmark-based geometric morphometrics and expressed as shape groups, which have been assessed in terms of their spatial distribution, raw material, and reutilization. Although several shape categories of points were identified, there is a strong degree of uniformity in the research sample. The dominant shape category (75.4 % of points) was pervasive across geographic space and was not significantly affected either by raw material or reutilization. A lower degree of reutilization of points is interpreted as a consequence of a non-utilitarian role of projectile points, which represented a critical component of Bell Beaker mortuary practices.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ahler SA, Geib PR (2000) Why flute? Folsom point design and adaptation. J Archaeol Sci 27:799–820. doi:10.1006/jasc.1999.0503

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Allentoft ME, Sikora M, Sjögren K-G, Rasmussen S, Rasmussen M, Stenderup J, Damgaard PB, Schroeder H, Ahlström T, Vinner L et al (2015) Population genomics of bronze age Eurasia. Nature 522:167–172. doi:10.1038/nature14507

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Amick D (1995) Patterns of technological variation among Folsom and midland projectile points in the American southwest. Plains Anthropol 40:23–38

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Andrefsky W Jr (1994) Raw-material availability and the organization of technology. Am Antiq 59:21–34. doi:10.2307/3085499

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Andrefsky W Jr (2006) Experimental and archaeological verification of an index of retouch for hafted bifaces. Am Antiq 71:743–757. doi:10.2307/40035887

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Apel J (2012) Tracing pressure-flaked arrowheads in Europe. In: Prescott C, Hakon G (eds) Becoming European? The transformation of third Millenium northern and Western Europe. Oxbow Books, Oxford, pp. 156–164

    Google Scholar 

  • Bamforth D (1991) Flintknapping skill, communal hunting, and Paleoindian projectile point typology. Plains Anthropol 36:309–322

    Google Scholar 

  • Binford LR, Binford SR (1966) A preliminary analysis of functional variability in the mousterian of levallois facies. Am Anthropol 68:238–295. doi:10.1525/aa.1966.68.2.02a001030

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bleed P (1986) The optimal design of hunting weapons: maintainability or reliability. Am Antiq 51:737–747

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bleed P (1997) Content as variability, result as selection: toward a behavioral definition of technology. Pap Am Anthropol Assoc 7:95–104

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bordes F (1961) The Mousterian cultures in France. Science 134:803–810

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bradbury A, Carr P (1995) Flake typologies and alternative approaches: an experimental assessment. Lithic Technol 20:100–115

    Google Scholar 

  • Brodie N (1997) New perspectives on the bell beaker culture. Oxford J Archaeol 16:297–314

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Buchanan B, Collard M (2007) Investigating the peopling of North America through cladistic analyses of early Paleoindian projectile points. J Anthropol Archaeol 26:366–393

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Buchanan B, Collard M (2010) A geometric morphometrics-based assessment of blade shape differences among Paleoindian projectile point types from western North America. J Archaeol Sci 37:350–359. doi:10.1016/j.jas.2009.09.047

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Buchanan B, Hamilton M (2009) A formal test of the origin of variation in north American early Paleoindian projectile points. Am Antiq 74:279–298

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cardillo M (2009) Temporal trends in the morphometric variation of the lithic projectile points during the middle Holocene of southern Andes (Puna region). In: Muscio HJ, José López GE (eds) Theoretical and methodological issues in evolutionary archaeology toward an unified Darwinian paradigm. Archeopress, Oxford, pp. 13–20

    Google Scholar 

  • Castiñeira C, Cardillo M, Charlin J, Baeza J (2011) Análisis de morfometría geométrica en puntas cola de pescado del Uruguay. Lat Am Antiq 22:335–358

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cauvin M-C (1974) Flèches à encoches de Syrie : essai de classification et d’interprétation culturelle. Paléorient 2:311–322. doi:10.3406/paleo.1974.1056

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clark JE (2003) Craftsmanship and craft specialization. In: Kenneth GH (ed) Mesoamerican lithic technology: experimentation and interpretation. University of Utah Press, Salt Lake City, pp. 220–233

    Google Scholar 

  • Charlin J, Cardillo M, Borrazzo K (2014) Spatial patterns in late Holocene lithic projectile point technology of Tierra del Fuego (southern South America): assessing size and shape changes. World Archaeol 46:78–100

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Childe GV (1925) The Dawn of European civilization, the history of civilization pre-history and antiquity. A.A. Knopf, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Christenson A (1986) Projectile point size and projectile aerodynamics: an exploratory study. Plains Anthropol 31:109–128

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • de Azevedo S, Charlin J, González-José R (2014) Identifying design and reduction effects on lithic projectile point shapes. J Archaeol Sci 41:297–307

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Darmark K (2010) Measuring skill in the production of bifacial pressure flaked points: a multivariate approach using the flip-test. J Archaeol Sci 37:2308–2315

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dev S, Riede F (2012) Quantitative functional analysis of late glacial projectile points from northern Europe. Lithics 33:40–55

    Google Scholar 

  • Dryden, I., Dryden, M., (2012) Shapes package. shapes Packag

  • Dryden I, Mardia K (1998) Statistical shape analysis. Wiley, Chichester

    Google Scholar 

  • Dujardin J, Kaba D, Henry A (2010) The exchangeability of shape. BMC Res Notes 3:266. doi:10.1186/1756-0500-3-266

    Google Scholar 

  • Dunnell R (1978) Style and function: a fundamental dichotomy. Am Antiq 43:192–202

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ellis C (1997) Factors influencing the use of stone projectile tips. In: Knecht H (ed) Projectile technology. Springer US, Ne York, pp. 37–74. doi:10.1007/978-1-4899-1851-2_2

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Eren M, Roos C (2014) The role of raw material differences in stone tool shape variation: an experimental assessment. J Archaeol Sci 49:472–487. doi:10.1016/j.jas.2014.05.034

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Erlandson J, Watts J, Jew N (2014) Darts, arrows, and archaeologists: distinguishing dart and arrow points in the archaeological record. Am Antiq 1:162–169

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ferguson J (2008) The when, where, and how of novices in craft production. J Archaeol Method Theory 15:51–67

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Finkelstein J (1937) A suggested projectile-point classification. Am Antiq 2:197–203

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Flenniken J, Raymond A (1986) Morphological projectile point typology: replication experimentation and technological analysis. Am Antiq 51:603–614

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fokkens H, Achterkamp Y, Kuijpers M (2008) Bracers or bracelets? About the functionality and meaning of bell beaker wrist-guards. Proc Prehist Soc 74:109–149. doi:10.1017/S0079497X00000165

    Google Scholar 

  • González-José R, Charlin J (2012) Relative importance of modularity and other morphological attributes on different types of lithic point weapons: assessing functional variations. PLoS One 7:e48009. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0048009

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gopher A, Bar-Yosef O, Nadel D (1991) Early Neolithic arrowhead types in the southern Levant : a typological suggestion. Paléorient 17:109–119. doi:10.3406/paleo.1991.4544

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hardaker T, Dunn S (2005) The Flip test – a new statistical measure for quantifying symmetry in stone tools. Antiquity 79:306

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harrison R (1980) The beaker folk: copper age archaeology in Western Europe. Thames & Hudson, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Hildebrandt W, King J (2012) Distinguishing between darts and arrows in the archaeological record: implications for technological change in the American west. Am Antiq 77:789–799

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hughes S (1998) Getting to the point: evolutionary change in prehistoric weaponry. J Archaeol Method Theory 5:345–408

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Iovita R (2011) Shape variation in aterian tanged tools and the origins of projectile technology: a morphometric perspective on stone tool function. PLoS One 6:e29029. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0029029

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jelinek A (1976) Form, function, and style in lithic analysis. In: Cleland C (ed) Cultural change and continuity: essays in honor of James Bennett griffin. Academic Press, New York, pp. 19–33

    Google Scholar 

  • Jorge A (2009) Technological insights into bell-beakers: a case study from the Mondego plateau, Portugal. In: Quinn PA (ed) Interpreting silent artefacts: petrographic approaches to archaeological ceramics. Archaeopress, Oxford, pp. 25–46

    Google Scholar 

  • Knecht H (1997) Projectile technology, interdisciplinary contributions to archaeology. New York University, New York. doi:10.1007/978-1-4899-1851-2_9

    Google Scholar 

  • Kopacz, J., 2013. The beginning of terminal lithic industries in Moravia, in: Current Researches on Bell Beakers. Proceedings of the 15th International Bell Beaker Conference: From Atlantic to Ural. Poio

  • Kopacz J, Šebela L (1992) Chipped stone industries of the moravian corded ware culture. Przegląd Archeol 39:67–85

    Google Scholar 

  • Kopacz J, Šebela L (1998) Chipped stone material of the moravian ProtoÚnětice culture. Przegląd Archeol. 39:67–85

    Google Scholar 

  • Kopacz J, Přichystal A, Šebela L, Škrdla P (2003) Contribution to the question of chipped stone industry the Moravian bell beaker culture. In: Czebreszuk J, Szmyt M (eds) The northeast frontier of bell beakers. BAR, Oxford, pp. 215–230

    Google Scholar 

  • Kopacz J, Přichystal A, Šebela L (2009) Lithic chipped industry of the bell beaker culture in Moravia and its east-central European context. Polska AkademiaUmiejętności, Archeologický ústav Akademie věd České republiky, Krakow, Brno

    Google Scholar 

  • Kuča, M., Kazdová, E., 2012. Kultura zvoncovitých pohárů. A Bell Beaker Culture Grave (Information table displayed in Těšetice – Kyjovice site). Brno

  • Kuhn S (1994) A formal approach to the design and assembly of mobile toolkits. Am Antiq 59:426–442

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lipo CP, Dunnell RC, O’Brien MJ, Harper V, Dudgeon J (2012) Beveled projectile points and ballistics technology. Am Antiq 77:774–788. doi:10.7183/0002-7316.77.4.774

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Matějíčková A (2009) Lithic chipped industry from the cemetery of the bell beaker culture in Hoštice-Heroltice, Vyškov district. In: Kopacz J, Přichystal A, Šebela L (eds) Lithic chipped industry of the bell beaker culture in Moravia and its east-central European context. Polska AkademiaUmiejętności, Archeologický ústav Akademie věd České republiky, Kraków-Brno, pp. 276–298

    Google Scholar 

  • Matějíčková A, Dvořák P (eds) (2012) Pohřebiště Z Období Zvoncovitých Pohárů Na Trase Dálnice D1 Vyškov – Mořice (Pravěk Supplementum 24, Sv. I). Ústav archeologické památkové péče, Brno, pp. 323–338

  • Mendoza PR (2016) The role of flint arrowheads in bell beaker groups of the central Iberian peninsula. In: Doce EG, von Lettow Vobeck CL (eds) Analysis of the economic foundations supporting the social supremacy of the beaker groups. Proceedings of the UISPP World Congress (1–7 September) 6, B36, Burgos, pp. 111–127

    Google Scholar 

  • Nelson M (1997) Projectile points. In: Knecht H (ed) Projectile technology. Springer US, New York, pp. 371–384. doi:10.1007/978-1-4899-1851-2

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Nicolas, C., 2013. Symboles de pouvoir au temps de Stonehenge: les productions d’armatures de prestige de la Bretagne au Danemark (2500–1700 av. J.-C.). Université de Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne

  • O’Brien M, Lyman R (2002) Evolutionary archeology: current status and future prospects. Evol Anthropol 11:26–36

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • O’Brien MJ, Darwent J, Lyman RL (2001) Cladistics is useful for reconstructing archaeological phylogenies: palaeoindian points from the southeastern United States. J Archaeol Sci 28:1115–1136. doi:10.1006/jasc.2001.0681

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Olivík J (2009) Silicitové šipky a nátepní destičky – jejich typologie a postavení v pohřebním ritu kultury zvoncovitých pohárů na Moravě. Masaryk University, Brno

    Google Scholar 

  • Pavelčík, J., 1974. Eneolitická sídliště Uherský Brod-Kyčkov a Havřice-cihelna, Studie Archeologického ústavu Československé akademie věd v Brně

  • Pearson, M.P., 1995. Southwestern Bronze Age pottery. In: Kinnes, I.A., Varndell, G. (Eds.), “Unbaked Urns of Rudely Shape.” Oxbow, pp. 89–100

  • Price DT, Knipper C, Grupe G, Smrčka V (2004) Strontium isotopes and prehistoric human migration: the bell beaker period in Central Europe. Eur J Archaeol 7:9–40. doi:10.1177/1461957104047992

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Přichystal A (2013) Lithic raw materials in prehistoric times of eastern Central Europe. Munipress, Brno

    Google Scholar 

  • Rehman F, Robinson V, Shennan S (1992) A neutron activation study of bell beakers and associated pottery from Czechoslovakia and Hungary. Památky Archeol 89:197–211

    Google Scholar 

  • Riede F (2009) The loss and re-introduction of bow-and-arrow technology: a case study from the northern European late Paleolithic. Lithic Technol 34:27–45

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sackett J (1982) Approaches to style in lithic archaeology. J Anthropol Archaeol 1:59–112. doi:10.1016/0278-4165(82)90008-3

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sarauw T (2007) Male symbols or warrior identities? The “archery burials” of the Danish bell beaker culture. J Anthropol Archaeol 26:65–87. doi:10.1016/j.jaa.2006.05.001

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shea JJ (2006) The origins of lithic projectile point technology: evidence from Africa, the Levant, and Europe. J Archaeol Sci 33:823–846. doi:10.1016/j.jas.2005.10.015

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shennan SJ (1976) Bell beakers and their context in Central Europe. In: Lanting JN, van Der Waals JD (eds) Glockenbechersymposion. Obberied 1974. Fibula-Van Dishoeck, Haarlem, pp. 231–239

    Google Scholar 

  • Shott M (1997) Stones and shafts redux: the metric discrimination of chipped-stone dart and arrow points. Am Antiq 62:86–101. doi:10.2307/282380

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shott MJ, Weedman KJ (2007) Measuring reduction in stone tools: an ethnoarchaeological study of Gamo hidescrapers from Ethiopia. J Archaeol Sci 34:1016–1035. doi:10.1016/j.jas.2006.09.009

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shott M, Hunzicker D, Patten B (2007) Pattern and allometric measurement of reduction in experimental Folsom bifaces. Lithic Technol 32:203–217

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sisk M, Shea J (2009) Experimental use and quantitative performance analysis of triangular flakes (levallois points) used as arrowheads. J Archaeol Sci 36:2039–2047

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sisk M, Shea J (2011) The African origin of complex projectile technology: an analysis using tip cross-sectional area and perimeter. Int J Evol Biol 2011:PMC3132613. doi:10.4061/2011/968012

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sosna D (2012) Stone arrowheads from Hoštice-I: use-wear analysis. In: Matějíčková A, Dvořák P (eds) Pohřebiště Z Období Zvoncovitých Pohárů Na Trase Dálnice D1 Vyškov – Mořice (Pravěk Supplementum 24, Sv. I). Ústav archeologické památkové péče, Brno, pp. 323–338

    Google Scholar 

  • Sosna D, Galeta P, Sladek V (2008) A resampling approach to gender relations: the Rebešovice cemetery. J Archaeol Sci 35:342–354. doi:10.1016/j.jas.2007.04.001

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tankersley K (1994) Clovis mastic and its hafting implications. J Archaeol Sci 21:117–124

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thomas D (1978) Arrowheads and atlatl darts: how the stones got the shaft. Am Antiq 43:461–472. doi:10.2307/279405

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Towner R, Warburton M (1990) Projectile point rejuvenation: a technological analysis. J Field Archaeol 17:311–321. doi:10.1179/009346990791548231

    Google Scholar 

  • Vander Linden M (2007) What linked the bell beakers in third millennium BC Europe? Antiquity 81:343–352. doi:10.1017/S0003598X00095223

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vander Linden M (2009) Comments on M. Pilar Prieto Martínez: ‘bell beaker communities in thy: the first bronze age Society in Denmark’. Nor Archaeol Rev 42:71–73. doi:10.1080/00293650802517027

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vander Linden, M., 2016. Population history in third-millennium-BC Europe: assessing the contribution of genetics, World Archaeology, 1–15. doi:10.1080/00438243.2016.1209124

  • Všianský D, Kolář J, Petřík J (2014) Continuity and changes of manufacturing traditions of bell beaker and bronze age encrusted pottery in the Morava river catchment (Czech Republic). J Archaeol Sci 49:414–422. doi:10.1016/j.jas.2014.05.028

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • White A (2013) Functional and stylistic variability in Paleoindian and early archaic projectile points from midcontinental North America. North Am Archaeol 34:71–108

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wiessner P (1983) Style and social information in Kalahari san projectile points. Am Antiq 45:253–276. doi:10.2307/280450

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wiessner P (1984) Reconsidering the behavioral basis for style: a case study among the Kalahari san. J Anthropol Archaeol 3:190–234. doi:10.1016/0278-4165(84)90002-3

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wilkins J, Schoville B, Brown K, Chazan M (2012) Evidence for early hafted hunting technology. Science 338(16):942–946. doi:10.1126/science.1227608

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wobst MH (1977) Stylistic behavior and information exchange. In: Cleland CE (ed) For the director: research essays in honor of James B. Griffin. University of Michigan, Michigan, pp. 317–342

    Google Scholar 

  • Yaroshevich A, Nadel D, Tsatskin A (2013) Composite projectiles and hafting technologies at Ohalo II (23 ka, Israel): analyses of impact fractures, morphometric characteristics and adhesive remains on. J Archaeol Sci 40:4009–4023. doi:10.1016/j.jas.2013.05.017

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Martin Kuča for materials and Jan. Olivík for initial discussion. This work was supported by a grant from Masaryk University (MUNI/M/1790/2014) and by the Slovak Research and Development Agency under the contract No. APVV-14-0550. Language revisions were kindly covered by the Faculty of Arts, Masaryk University. Patrik Galeta was supported by the University of West Bohemia project SGS-2016-028.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlářská 2, 611 37, Brno, Czech Republic

    J. Petřík

  2. Department of Archaeology and Museology, Faculty of Arts, Masaryk University, A. Novaka 1, 602 00, Brno, Czech Republic

    J. Petřík & D. Štefanisko

  3. Department of Anthropology, Faculty of Philosophy and Arts, University of West Bohemia, Sedlackova 15, 306 14, Plzen, Czech Republic

    D. Sosna & P. Galeta

  4. Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 625 00, Brno, Czech Republic

    L. Prokeš

  5. Department of Physical Electronics, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlářská 2, 611 37, Brno, Czech Republic

    L. Prokeš

Authors
  1. J. Petřík
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. D. Sosna
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. L. Prokeš
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. D. Štefanisko
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. P. Galeta
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to J. Petřík.

Additional information

Highlights

• Size and shape variation of 194 Bell Beaker projectile points from Central Europe were explored

• Geometric morphometrics was applied to identify shape categories

• Dominant shape category does not depend on space, raw material, or reutilization

• Weak reutilization reflects non-utilitarian role of projectile points

Electronic supplementary material

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Petřík, J., Sosna, D., Prokeš, L. et al. Shape matters: assessing regional variation of Bell Beaker projectile points in Central Europe using geometric morphometrics. Archaeol Anthropol Sci 10, 893–904 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12520-016-0423-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12520-016-0423-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation