The oldest finds that likely served as arrowheads, were discovered in South Africa. The age of small stone flakes with traces of blood, bone, and adhesive resin at the bases is estimated to be 64 thousand years. Researchers believe that these artifacts were left by Middle Stone Age Cro-Magnons of Africa. A number of Middle Paleolithic African cultures used arrowheads in everyday life.

The oldest probable arrowheads in Europe are considered to be items from the Strelets culture found at various Kostenki sites and the Sungir site, used 24–35 thousand years ago. These are triangular arrowheads, processed on both sides, with a straight or concave base, as well as leaf-shaped ones. The finds of small stone and bone arrowheads found in a number of Siberian cultures date back to about the same period.

In addition to stone and bone, early humans used shell fragments and animal claws to make the impact part of arrows. Arrowheads were attached to wooden shafts with animal glue or resin.

One of humanity’s most important inventions is the bow. The bow would be meaningless without the flying projectiles — arrows, which require a striking element. The arrowhead was the most technologically complex part of the arrow.

Experts distinguish several basic forms of stone arrow blades: triangular and drop-shaped, leaf-shaped, with socket tangs that have narrowed stems at the rear, as well as with two barbs in front of the tang, with a side notch and one barb. Barbs ensured that the arrow stuck in the victim’s body.

The Late Paleolithic and Mesolithic are characterized by composite arrowheads, assembled from several small chips — microliths.

In addition to gluing the tang into the shaft groove, ancient people wrapped the attachment point with leather straps or ropes that were woven from plant fibers. An exception was heart-shaped arrowheads, likely designed in such a way to separate from the shaft after hitting the animal and split into several pieces.

Flint arrowheads and Stone Age axes were valued in many provinces of the Russian Empire until the mid-20th century. The products of primitive people, accidentally found by locals, were used in folk medicine, or as magical elements in amulets and talismans.