A section of arrowshaft

Occasionally, the freeze drying conditions of the arctic will act to preserve organic materials that are rarely preserved.  This 24.5 cm long section of wood was found preserved in a frost crack under two fist sized cobbles. It has a uniform diameter and each end is carefully carved to a wedge shaped scarf joint.  Most likely it was a mid-section of an arrow.

The arrow shaft is in the left foreground.  The loose cobble to the right of it is one of the rocks that covered it.  The alcan foil in the upper right and the "L" shaped wood trough on the right edge of the photo were used to make a support for the artifact so that we could safely transport it back to camp.

You can see the tapered end on the right.  A matching end on the next section of arrow could have been lashed in place with sinew.

Photo Credits: Tim Rast