[Bonetools] FW: identification...

[S O'Connor]

Sorry.  I managed to send this response to Olivier directly rather than the
mailing list.

Sonia 

Dr Sonia O'Connor PhD FSA FIIC ACR Honorary Visiting Fellow, University of
York
Post-doctoral Research Fellow
Archaeological Sciences
Division of AGES,  
University of Bradford
Bradford, West Yorkshire, BD7 1DP, UK

tel 01274 23 6498 (office) 5210 (lab)
fax 01274 23 5210


-----Original Message-----
From: S O'Connor [mailto:S.Oconnor at bradford.ac.uk] 
Sent: 31 October 2012 17:52
To: bonetools-bounces at listserv.niif.hu
Subject: FW: [Bonetools] identification...



-----Original Message-----
From: S O'Connor [mailto:S.Oconnor at bradford.ac.uk]
Sent: 31 October 2012 15:09
To: 'PUTELAT Olivier'
Subject: RE: [Bonetools] identification...

Dear Olivier,

I see what you mean. However, the dimples seem quite regular and have
concentric scoring and are clearly drilled.  It is the holes that have
pierced the bone that seem to be irregular but these again seem more
circular at the top edge of the cut (widest diameter).  It would be useful
to have a view of the back of the bone plate.

It maybe that this irregularity is no problem in the interpretation I
suggested.  Today our experience is with perfectly symmetrical twist bits
that are spun relatively fast, whether drilling using a geared hand drill or
an electric drill.  You would expect the hole to be circular, with no taper
and perfectly smooth sided, as once you had drilled right through the object
the drill will spin many times before you stop it.

However, in my experience, when hand drilling wood with rather blunt bits
(sharpening can be a faff and I never replace them unless they break! Some
of them belonged to my father and my grandfather...), you have to lean on
the drill a bit to get them to cut at any reasonable rate. Once the wood (or
in this case the bone) becomes critically thin, the pressure you are
applying can force the tip of the bit through the remaining material,
stopping the drill more or less dead.  This leave you with an irregular exit
hole unless you take steps to finish it properly.  From what I can see in
this photograph, the evidence fits this scenario quite well.

Sonia

Dr Sonia O'Connor PhD FSA FIIC ACR Honorary Visiting Fellow, University of
York Post-doctoral Research Fellow Archaeological Sciences Division of AGES,
University of Bradford Bradford, West Yorkshire, BD7 1DP, UK

tel 01274 23 6498 (office) 5210 (lab)
fax 01274 23 5210


-----Original Message-----
From: PUTELAT Olivier [mailto:olivier.putelat at pair-archeologie.fr]
Sent: 31 October 2012 14:26
To: S.Oconnor at bradford.ac.uk
Subject: RE : [Bonetools] identification...

Dear Sonia.  Thank you for your suggestions. Yes it's make sense. I also
think that it is à possible plate for drilling. But the contours of the
holes are irregular (?) All the best, Olivier.
.________________________________________
De : bonetools-bounces at listserv.niif.hu
[bonetools-bounces at listserv.niif.hu] de la part de S O'Connor
[S.Oconnor at bradford.ac.uk] Date d'envoi : mercredi 31 octobre 2012 14:55 À :
'Mailing list for archaeologists of the research group for the
study of        object and waste of bone,       antler. ivory and horn.'
Objet : Re: [Bonetools] identification...

Dear Olivier,

I don't think this is for bead or button production as these are drilled
holes, not the spaces left after cutting out blanks. I don't think this is a
deliberately worked object, but an indicator that drilling was being used as
a forming process for objects made in bone or some other material, such as
wood.

When drilling wood held in a vice, it is useful to put a little piece of
waste wood behind the object that you are drilling so that when you drill
through the object its outer surface does not splinter as it might well do
if the drill bit cuts through into open space.  Similarly a piece of waste
wood can be used to protect your bench from being damaged as the drill cuts
through the object, when you are drilling from above.

This waste piece ends up with a series of holes, drilled to arbitrary
depths. The pattern of holes will relate to the pattern of holes in the
object but if the waste piece is used more than once this pattern will be
overlaid by other patterns as the piece will have been re-positioned each
time to provide a new surface against which to drill each hole.

I think that this piece of bone has been used in exactly this way, perhaps
in the production of drilled bone objects of a completely different shape or
in an entirely different material, such as ceramic.

Does that make sense?

All the best,

Sonia
Dr Sonia O'Connor PhD FSA FIIC ACR Honorary Visiting Fellow, University of
York Post-doctoral Research Fellow Archaeological Sciences Division of AGES,
University of Bradford Bradford, West Yorkshire, BD7 1DP, UK

tel 01274 23 6498 (office) 5210 (lab)
fax 01274 23 5210

-----Original Message-----
From: bonetools-bounces at listserv.niif.hu
[mailto:bonetools-bounces at listserv.niif.hu] On Behalf Of PUTELAT Olivier
Sent: 30 October 2012 17:11
To: Bonetools at listserv.niif.hu
Subject: [Bonetools] identification...

Dear colleagues, an archaeologist asks your expertise on this object
(attached document) found in a salt factory (first iron age) in Lorraine
(France).
Any suggestions welcome... Thanks in advance. Olivier.


Olivier PUTELAT
POLE D'ARCHEOLOGIE INTERDEPARTEMENTAL RHENAN (PAIR) Service d'Archéologie et
Recherches Scientifiques - Laboratoire mixte d'ostéo-archéologie -
Archéozoologue Tél 07 60 20 24 02 2, allée Thomas Edison ZA Sud - CIRSUD
F-67600 SELESTAT
FRANCE


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