In archaeology, bone tools have been documented from the advent of Homo sapiens and are also known from Neanderthal contexts or even earlier. Bone has been used for making by virtually all hunter-gatherer societies, even when other materials were readily available.
Any part of the skeleton can potentially be utilized; however,
They made musical rasps, flutes and whistles as well as toys have also been made of bone. Decoratively carved articles were also made of bone such as hair combs, hair pins and pendants.
Even the teeth and hooves did not go to waste. The teeth were drilled and used for decoration on clothing and necklaces. The hooves were also drilled and used for decoration on clothing as well as strung for rattles and bells.
As an Organic matter, bone often does not survive in a way that is Archeology recoverable. However, under the right conditions, bone tools do sometimes survive and many have been recovered from locations around the world representing time periods throughout history and prehistory. Also many examples have been collected Ethnography, and some traditional peoples, as well as experimental archaeologists, continue to use bone to make tools.
History
The oldest excavated bone tools are from Africa, dated to about 1.5 million years ago.
It is widely accepted that they appeared and developed in Africa before any other geographic region. A very famous excavation of bone tools is that of the
Blombos Cave in South Africa. A collection of twenty-eight bone tools were recovered from 70 thousand year old Middle Stone Age levels at Blombos Cave. Careful analyses of these tools reveal that formal production methods were used to create and
.
Bone tools have been discovered in the context of Neanderthal groups as well as throughout the development of anatomically modern humans. Archaeologists have long believed that Neanderthals learned how to make bone tools from modern humans and by mimicking , viewing bone as simply another raw material. Modern humans, on the other hand, took advantage of the properties of bone and worked them into specific shapes and tools.
A recent discovery of specialized bone tools at two Neanderthal sites in southwestern France brings to light the idea that Neanderthals may have actually taught modern humans how to make specialized bone tools. The uncovering of ("polishing stones") at these sites is significant as they are about 51,000 years old, predating the known arrival of modern humans to Europe.
Prior to the Industrial Revolution (when machine mass production of sharp tools became viable), many everyday tools such as needles were made from bone; such items continue to be valued today as .
are still used by bookbinding.
Types
Awls
An awl is a long, pointed spike generally used for piercing or marking materials such as wood or leather. Bone awls are pointed tips made on any bone splinter. Bone awls vary considerably in the amount of polish from wear, the method of preparation, and size. Bone awls tend to be classified according to the characteristics of the bone used to make the awl. Many bone awls retain an
epiphysis, or rounded end of a bone. Although authors have differing theories as to the uses of bone awls, the two main uses agreed upon are as manipulators in the making of basketry and as perforators in the working of hide.
Spear points and bipoints
Bone spear points and bipoints have been found throughout the world. A mastodon rib bone found in Washington State was discovered in the 1970s with a broken bone projectile point stuck in it. A 2011 study using radiocarbon dating found that it is about 14,000 years old.
This discovery is significant because it predates the arrival of the Clovis people, and may help rewrite human history in the Americas.
Hoes
Hoes fashioned from bison
scapula were common cultivating tools among the Plains Village Indians. In particular, it was used for cultivating small garden crops. It continued to be used among these Indians until iron hoes were brought by French traders in the 18th century. Recovered bone hoes range from 40 cm to as small as 15 cm. The size variation is due, in large part, to frequent resharpening.
Bone tools were also used for digging up insect mounds for consumption, known as Entomophagy.
Musical instruments
A number of different musical instruments have been created from bone. A vulture-bone flute discovered in Europe is currently considered the world's oldest musical instrument. At about 40,000 years old, the instrument dates to the time that modern humans were settling in the area. Researchers argue that musical instruments such as this flute helped modern humans form tighter social bonds, giving them an advantage over their Neanderthal counterparts.
In addition, bones consist of a pair of animal bones that are played by clacking the bones together. As a musical instrument, they have a history that dates to ancient ancient China, ancient Egypt and ancient Greece.
Other types
ROAD database (CC BY-SA 4.0 ROCEEH)" width="400", height="300">
{
"type": "ExternalData",
"service": "page",
"title": "ROCEEH/Eyed_needle.map"
}
See also
Further reading
-
Baffier, D. & Julien, M. (1990). "L'outillage en os des niveaux châtelperroniens d'Arcy-sur-Cure (Yonne)", in: Paléolithique moyen récent et Paléolithique supérieur ancien en Europe, Colloque international de Nemours (9-11 mai 1988), Mémoires du Musée de Préhistoire d'Ile-de-France, 3, 329–334.
