[Bonetools] a bone tool from Xinjiang

Tue Jul 1 10:27:58 CEST 2014

Dear Alice,

The comb differs completely from what the hemp-weaver's tools looked like
after permanent use for weeks, but hemp fibers have a very rough surface
and she experimented with sail-weaving by the way. Tina Tuohy collected
hundreds of antler combs in the past, so probably her results should be
taken into account as well?

But the use-wear in your photographs looks similar to Roman bone/antler
combs where the grooves run from the base of the denture towards both
surfaces: the initial VVVVVVV denture of the comb receives those
grooves and it looks like the YYYYYYY pattern in your photograph. I hope
you can understand what I mean, as it is difficult to describe this. As I
do not work as an archaeologist any longer I have no more access to the
material I worked with.

There was another experimental textile specialist, who presented a wooden
weaving sword (some extremely hard wood - I forgot which) at the same
conference in Copenhagen. It had the same use-wear on its surface as my
Magdalensberg material. It is a pitty that both presentations were never
published - it would be most important for the interpretation of Tools also.

Kordula

2014-07-01 9:19 GMT+02:00 Alice Choyke <choyke at ceu.hu>:

> I had weaving combs from 'close-to-contact' Bolivia used on wool textiles
> (based on direct ethnographic analogy) and there were no grooves at the
> base of the  the notch but the combs were ridiculously worn down. I've
> attached a couple of pictures. I guess there are several ways to use such
> combs which must depend on the type of loom (in this case probably a
> back-strap loom) as opposed to what in Western China?
>
> Alice
>
>
> On Tue, Jul 1, 2014 at 8:46 AM, Kordula Gostencnik <kgosten at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
>> Dear all,
>>
>> the threads should have cut grooves into the bone on the bottom of the
>> denture - except for extremely soft wool, which would have left a highly
>> polished surface; obviously there are no grooves. As for wear patterns with
>> textile tools caused by friction, cf. the holes of weaving tablets in bone
>> or wood, where permanent friction of the threads causes deep grooves. At
>> the NESAT X conference in Copenhagen, an experimental textile expert showed
>> us her antler weaving comb with completely worn dentures, but she
>> experimented with hemp which is extremely coarse. Unfortunately her
>> experiments remained unpublished.
>>
>> Sincerely
>> Kordula
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> 2014-07-01 3:23 GMT+02:00 Elisabeth Ann Stone <elisabethastone at gmail.com>
>> :
>>
>> I agree, of course, with Alice! There's no replacement for usewear
>>> analysis.  However, split ribs have a number of documented uses in
>>> ethnographic and archaeological contexts related to both textiles and
>>> hide-working. What strikes me, however, is the size. Are there other
>>> similar tools? Or tools with similar wear patterns? It's really very small
>>> for weaving or for most kinds of hide-working. What else is going on at the
>>> site? What are the small fauna present?  But, in the end, microscopic
>>> analysis is the best way to get some insight.
>>>
>>> Beth
>>>
>>>
>>> On Sat, Jun 21, 2014 at 3:48 AM, Paul Stokes <escoffier1951 at yahoo.co.uk>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>>  Dear YouYue,
>>>>
>>>> I don't think it would work for textiles the second tooth down from the
>>>> top as two fine points these would snag. I would suggest a pottery working
>>>> tool, it would be worth looking at the ceramics to see if any have a combed
>>>> decoration. The another suggestion it could be used on skins the teeth to
>>>> remove the fat and flesh, the long sides to rub the skin to soften it. I
>>>> use a short piece of cattle rib similar in size but not spilt for that
>>>> purpose.
>>>>
>>>> Regards,
>>>>
>>>> Paul Stokes
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>   On Friday, 20 June 2014, 17:06, youyue <youyue09 at hotmail.com> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>  Hello!
>>>> Here is a bone tool from Xinjiang, China. Its date is about 500-100
>>>> B.C.
>>>> I think it is part of a rib.
>>>> What does it for? Is it related to wool processing?
>>>> I really appreciate your help!
>>>>
>>>> YouYue
>>>> Department of History,
>>>> Capital Normal University,
>>>> China
>>>> Mail:youyue09 at hotmail.com
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
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>>>>
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>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> Elisabeth A. Stone, PhD
>>> Adjunct Faculty
>>> Department of Anthropology
>>> MSC01-1040, Anthropology 1
>>> University of New Mexico
>>> Albuquerque, NM 87131
>>>
>>> 201.344.2229
>>>
>>> elisabethastone at gmail.com
>>>
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>>
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