[Bonetools] Iceman's antler retouching tool

[Lena Strid]

Dear Dale,

Similar antler tools ("tryckstock") have been found at the mesolithic sites at Tågerup and Motala, both in Sweden, a few years ago. The Tågerup excavations have been published (Per Karsten & Bo Knarrström 2003, The Tågerup Excavations. Part of the series "Skånska spår - arkeologi längs Västkustbanan"), but the Motala excavations are I believe ongoing. It might be worth contacting the local excavation unit* to see if they can give you more information. 

*: National Heritage Board excavation unit, eastern Sweden: uvost at raa.se 

/Lena


----- Original Message -----
From: "Serjeantson D." <D.Serjeantson at soton.ac.uk>
To: "Mailing list for archaeologists of the research group for the study of object and waste of bone, antler. ivory and
horn." <bonetools at listserv.niif.hu>
Sent: Wednesday, 2 October, 2013 12:51:07 PM
Subject: Re: [Bonetools] Iceman's antler retouching tool

Dear Selena,
The tool is described in 'The Man in the Ice' by Spindler (p.105). He
described it as a piece of lime wood with a hole drilled down the middle
with a rod or spike of antler inserted into the hole. The fact that it
was antler was confirmed by Angela von den Driesch. The tip of the rod
had been hardened by fire to strengthen it and was a blackish colour.
The rod or spike was 5.1 cm long and 5 mm in diameter.

I have got a copy of the catalogue from the display in Bolzano and it
does contain a good colour photo of the retoucheur. If you would like a
scan, I can do that when I next have access to a scanner.

The catalogue says that nothing similar has been found elsewhere. Have
you found an antler rod which might be from a similar tool? I wonder if
anyone else has since found a similar rod.

Best
Dale

Dale Serjeantson FSA, MIFA, MA
Archaeology Faculty of Humanities
University of Southampton
Southampton S017 1BJ

http://www.southampton.ac.uk/archaeology/about/staff/dale.page
________________________________
From: bonetools-bounces at listserv.niif.hu
[bonetools-bounces at listserv.niif.hu] on behalf of Selena Vitezović
[selenavitezovic at gmail.com]
Sent: 02 October 2013 10:22
To: Mailing list for archaeologists of the research group for the study
of object and waste of bone, antler. ivory and horn.
Subject: [Bonetools] Iceman's antler retouching tool

Dear colleagues,

Two years ago, I saw and exhibition on Otzi, the Iceman, in Historical
museum in Oslo (exhibition was a visiting one, but I do not recall who
originally made it, I saw it while attending EAA conference in Oslo).
There I saw the replicas of some items found in Iceman's pockets,
including a retouching tool made from antler. However, this was an
exhibition without accompanying catalogue, and I was wondering if anyone
can help mi with reference for this information?
Perhaps the same exhibition was held in some other museum with a
catalogue: I tried to find any data on papers published on Otzi, which
are quite numerous, but so far I haven't encountered any mention of
antler retouching tool.
Any help is welcome, thank you.

Best regards, Selena Vitezović

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