Clay arrowheads?

[coyote pup]

Anybody ever heard of natives using clay arrowheads? I have never heard of clay being used, but can somebody tell me why you wouldn't? I can't see a reason not to. They would be relatively easy to make, and wouldn't be any more fragile than obsidian if they were fire hardened. Opinions?

[JackCrafty]

Nope, never heard of it either, as far as NA's using them.  Ceramic arrowheads are not uncommon (johnstone, etc.) and I don't see why you couldn't make one of clay and then fire it in a kiln.  It would probably work well enough and would be similar to bone I guess.

I guess the only reason you wouldn't want to use clay is if you had something that was easier to fashion into an arrowhead....and easier to process.  Making clay from scratch, and then firing it, is not as easy as it sounds.

[ballista]

    the japanese have the traditional archery form called kyudo-in that, ive seen vented broadheads that were painted like purple and white, real purdy- they'd have had to use something moldable, if they didnt its a good theory man.