Bone tool

Article summary

In archaeology, bone tools have been documented from the advent of Homo sapiens and are also known from Homo neanderthalensis contexts or even earlier. Bone has been used for making tools by virtually all hunter-gatherer societies, even when other materials were readily available. Any part of the skeleton can potentially be utilized; however, antlers and long bones provide some of the best working material. Long bone fragments can be shaped, by scraping against an abrasive stone, into such items as arrow and spear points, needles, awls, and fish hooks. Other bone tools include spoons, knives, pins, needles, flakers, hide scrapers, and reamers. Musical rasps, flutes, and whistles, as well as toys, have been made of bone. Decoratively carved articles of bone were also made, such as hair combs, hair pins, and pendants. Beyond the skeleton, teeth were drilled and used for decoration on clothing and necklaces. Hooves were also drilled and used as decorations on clothing, and strung as rattles and bells. As an organic material, bone often does not survive in a way that is archaeologically recoverable. However, under the right conditions, bone tools do sometimes survive and have been recovered from locations around the world representing time periods throughout history and prehistory.…

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