Inarchaeology,bone tools have been documented from the advent ofHomo sapiens and are also known fromHomo neanderthalensis contexts or even earlier.Bone has been used for makingtools by virtually allhunter-gatherer societies, even when other materials were readily available.
Any part of the skeleton can potentially be utilized; however,antlers[1] 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 asarrow andspear points,needles,awls, andfish hooks.Other bone tools include spoons, knives, pins, needles, flakers, hide scrapers and reamers.[citation needed]
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.[2]
As anorganic material, bone often does not survive in a way that isarchaeologically recoverable. However, under the right conditions, bone tools do sometimes survive and many have been recovered from locations around the world representing time periods throughouthistory andprehistory. Also many examples have been collectedethnographically, and some traditional peoples, as well asexperimental archaeologists, continue to use bone to make tools.
The oldest excavated bone tools are from Africa, dated to about 1.5 million years ago.[3] 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 theBlombos Cave in South Africa. A collection of twenty-eight bone tools were recovered from 70 thousand year oldMiddle Stone Age levels at Blombos Cave. Careful analyses of these tools reveal that formal production methods were used to createawls andprojectile points.[4]
Bone tools have been discovered in the context ofNeanderthal groups as well as throughout the development ofanatomically modern humans. Archaeologists have long believed that Neanderthals learned how to make bone tools from modern humans and by mimickingstone tools, 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 oflissoirs ("polishing stones") at these sites is significant as they are about 51,000 years old, predating the known arrival of modern humans to Europe.[5]
Prior to theIndustrial 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 asantiques.Bone folders are still used bybookbinders.
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 anepiphysis, 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.[6]
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.[7] This discovery is significant because it predates the arrival of the Clovis people, and may help rewrite human history in the Americas.[8]
Hoes fashioned from bisonscapula 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.[9] Bone tools were also used for digging up insect mounds for consumption, known asEntomophagy.
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.[10]
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 ancientChina,Egypt andGreece.
