[Bonetools] worn scapulae

[rozalia christidou]

Dear Heidi,
This is really interesting information.
Thanks a lot.
Rozy

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Heidi Luik" <Heidi.Luik at mail.ee>
To: "Mailing list for archaeologists of the research group for the study 
ofobject and waste of bone,antler. ivory and horn." 
<bonetools at listserv.iif.hu>
Sent: Friday, November 23, 2007 4:04 PM
Subject: Re: [Bonetools] worn scapulae



I agree with Christian that moving thread can make a groove into bone. I
add two drawings of one type of artefact (unfortunately I have only drawing
of it, not photo). The first picture is bone artefact from Tallinn, it is
archaeological find, I found comparison for it in ethnographic material in
Estonia (picture 2). Such artefacts (in ethnographic material these are
usually made of wood, but sometimes of bone also) were used for clewing
(I'm not sure if it is correct word - I mean making the ball of yarn) linen
yarn or thread. It was because linen thread can harm your hand during
clewing, but so it will run trough holes in the ends and along the side of
such artefact. Linen thread is strong enough to make a groove into bone,
during long use of course, - there is quite clear groove on the side of
archaeological artefact (actually it is on both sides, but probably the
thread runs sometimes on one side and sometimes on other, or maybe
sometimes two threads could have been clewed together). And there are also
some small grooves seen on both end sides of the artefact.

Best wishes,
Heidi


At 12:56 23.11.07 +0100, you wrote:
>Dear Rozalia,
>
>I would like to emphasize that the grooves have a U-shaped instead of a
>V-shaped cross section. Further they look polished even in the deep of the
>groove. This is unlikely if not impossible if using any sharp-edged object
>on the bone (e. g. for butchery). It must therefore have been something
>with a rounded surface. I think a thread is not completely out of
>question, but I agree with Etan that it will not cause such a mark by
>simple impession (e. g. tight tying around the bone). Instead I would
>suggest a repeated movement on the bone, like a cord running over an edge.
>Just an idea, however.
>
>Best
>
>Christian
>
>--
>KNOCHENARBEIT
>
>Hans Christian Küchelmann
>Diplom-Biologe
>
>Konsul-Smidt-Str. 30,  D-28217 Bremen,  Germany
>tel: +421 - 61 99 177
>fax: +421 - 37 83 540
>mail: info at knochenarbeit.de
>web: http://www.knochenarbeit.de
>
>-------
>
>rozalia christidou schrieb:
>>Exactly. As you say. I have never seen such deep grooves on the 
>>experimental
>>tools. This is why I can't answer Lionel's question.
>>I shall send to him all of the answers I get and let you know about
>>experiments and their results, if he's willing to make them.
>>You've a great help.
>>----- Original Message ----- From: "Etan Ayalon" 
>><etana at eretzmuseum.org.il>
>>To: "Mailing list for archaeologists of the research group for the study
>>ofobject and waste of bone,antler. ivory and horn."
>><bonetools at listserv.iif.hu>
>>Sent: Thursday, November 22, 2007 9:50 PM
>>Subject: RE: [Bonetools] worn scapulae
>>
>>Dear Rozalia,
>>It does not seem probable that threads, even if tightened, can make such
>>grooves, especially that they are not even or completely circling the
>>object. It seems that they are the result of butchery or of cleaning the
>>bone to prepare it for its purpose, and only later this part of the tool 
>>got
>>polished because of the work done with it. Perhaps thread or cloth were 
>>tied
>>to it so it would be more comfortable to hold ans use. I wonder if the
>>experts of use-wear found out what signs leave sweating hands holding a 
>>tool
>>for a long time.
>>Etan Ayalon
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: bonetools-bounces at listserv.iif.hu on behalf of rozalia christidou
>>Sent: Thu 11/22/2007 9:33 PM
>>To: Mailing list for archaeologists of the research group for
>>Subject: [Bonetools] worn scapulae
>>Dear all,
>>Dr. Lionel Gourichon sent to me photographs of tools made from scapulae
>>showing polished grooves near or on the neck of the bone. As you can see 
>>on
>>the photographs attached, their number, length and distribution vary.
>>He asked me if these marks could be produced by threads tightly tied 
>>around
>>the neck in order to prepare a handle for the tool.
>>I cannot answer his question. I asked his permission to circulate the
>>photographs on this website and ask for information.
>>We have already experimental specimens used as thong stretchers and, of
>>course, we have examined the examples published by Semenov and, more
>>recently, Dr. Sandra Olsen and comparisons will be made. We would 
>>appreciate
>>your help in order to examine the problem properly.
>>We thank you in advance
>>Rozalia Christidou
>>PS.
>>1) I sent the photos in two separate e-mails. The photos come from 
>>different
>>objects.
>>2) To Etan Ayalon: I started looking at the bibliography and ask Classical
>>Archaeologists for more information
>
>
>
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