Abstract

Excavations in the processing area at Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump have produced numerous tiny, poorly made arrowheads. I propose that many of these are toys and did not function as adult weapons. A review of Plains ethnographies indicates that youths were invariably supplied with small scale bows and arrows to practice archery skills at an early age. An examination of Late Prehistoric projectile points from Head-Smashed-In was undertaken to determine whether toys could be distinguished in this assemblage. The comparative workmanship and neck widths of projectile points are evaluated as useful indices to distinguish toys from adult weapons. The results of this study may have important ramifications beyond Head-Smashed-In. The occurrence of toys in an assemblage may affect considerations of social organization and site function at Plains sites. Also, the inappropriate classification of toys may hamper interpretations of culture history based on point typology.