Mesolithic Spear and Harpoon
The Earliest spears were only fire-hardened wooden shafts that are sharpened at one end. Spear that have sharper tips appeared later in the Mesolithic era. The sharper tips could be used to hunt larger animals. They would attach the spear head to the wooden shaft in a slot which would be filled with pine resin glue mixed with beeswax, then it would be tied tightly with strong plant fiber. These types of spears were found by archaeologists in Britain. They dated from 10,000 to 5,500 BCE.
There aren't many archaeological records of harpoons existing since the parts of the harpoon rarely survive. Harpoons were used in the paleolithic but they became more popular in the Mesolithic era. Like the flint spear the point is inserted in the shaft with resin, the barbs are attached to the sides after the barbs are tied by stitching with soaked tree bark to the wooden parts of the barb. The barb is then glued to the main shaft with pine resin glue. The glue is very water proof so acts well as an adhesive for fishing equipment. Archaeologists found parts in the Mesolithic era. ( I wasn't able to find exactly were and when they were found since only certain parts were found)
There aren't many archaeological records of harpoons existing since the parts of the harpoon rarely survive. Harpoons were used in the paleolithic but they became more popular in the Mesolithic era. Like the flint spear the point is inserted in the shaft with resin, the barbs are attached to the sides after the barbs are tied by stitching with soaked tree bark to the wooden parts of the barb. The barb is then glued to the main shaft with pine resin glue. The glue is very water proof so acts well as an adhesive for fishing equipment. Archaeologists found parts in the Mesolithic era. ( I wasn't able to find exactly were and when they were found since only certain parts were found)