††††The oldest arrowheads on record were found in Morocco. However, ancient arrowheads have also been discovered in many other areas including Europe, the Middle East, China and the Americas. It is likely that the first arrowheads had appeared by 8000 BC.
The earliest versions were made from naturally occurring materials such as flint, slate, quartzite or bone. When metal was discovered arrowheads made from iron or copper appeared.
Early arrowheads were made either by chipping or cutting, according to the material used. Flint was chipped with a stone tool, causing it to progressively flake until a sharp edge was revealed. A material such as bone would have been cut into the correct shape using a knife-like piece of stone. Metals required a different treatment, and were heated and beaten into shape.
