Bell Beaker Culture Arrowhead

Formerly in the collection of Simon Camm (b.1944), author of The Geology and Landscape of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

Accompanied by a United Kingdom Export License (PAU/20008966/26).

An exceptional example of the type, this beautifully preserved barbed and tanged arrowhead embodies the technical sophistication and elegance achieved by flint knappers of the Bell Beaker culture during the Bronze Age.

Barbed and tanged arrowheads represent one of the most refined and recognizable forms of prehistoric European weaponry, emerging in the late Neolithic and reaching their apogee during the Bronze Age. Fashioned through the careful application of pressure flaking, the creation of such an object required considerable technical control. The precise shaping of the barbs and tang, combined with the thinning of the blade, demanded both experience and a sophisticated understanding of the material.

The present example is distinguished by the precision of its workmanship and the quality of its preservation. The edges remain sharp and well articulated, with clearly legible flake scars that reveal the skill of the maker. Particularly notable is the character of the flint itself: softly translucent, with a refined palette of grey and warm brown tones enlivened by flowing natural banding that lends the piece a sculptural quality. Examples of this caliber are especially sought after for precisely this combination of technical accomplishment and visual appeal.