Migratory animals as dispersal agents of cultural materials.
Migratory animals (such as waterfowl, fish, whales, and seals) and large land animals (such as deer, elephant, bear, and cattle) that were hunted for food by aboriginal peoples may be struck, but not killed, by projectile weapons which remain imbedded in the body. Individuals which survive may be killed elsewhere, and the projectile weapon tips may be recovered. Numerous instances are cited. Such exotic artifacts can be mistakenly attributed to cultural contact between distant human groups unless archeologists are aware of this special kind of diffusion process.
D000828:Animal Population Groups; D000818:Animals; D000884:Anthropology, Cultural; D001717:Birds; D010872:Caniformia; D002335:Carnivora; D002591:Cetacea; D003670:Deer; D004606:Elephants; D005399:Fishes