[Bonetools] Lepus and Bone Tools

[Griffitts, Janet L - (griffitt)]

In the southwestern US we find jackrabbit (Lepus sp.) bones made into awls, beads, tubes, tinklers (or what is interpretted as such), and occasionally other tools, ornaments, or other artifacts. In my limited experience it seems like there's a bit more variety in form in the Four Corners area (the Basketmaker, Anasazi/Ancestral Pueblo area) compared to Southern Arizona (Hohokam area), but that might be a matter of preservation and sample size.  Here in the Sonora Desert, in the Hohokam area leporids tend to make up the majority of the faunal bone in archaeological sites so it isn't surprising that folks would have made tools from the rabbits and jackrabbits whenever it was practical.  It isn't too uncommon to find that the only artiodactyl bone present will have been made into tools and usually artiodactyl bone is overrepresented in the bone tools compared to the overall faunal assemblage.

Jackrabbit tools and ornaments are also present in the Plains, but as a generalization I don't think they usually make up as large a proportion in the overall bone artifact assemblage in the Plains as in the southwest, at least not in sites that have a lot of bison bone.  That's a gross generalization and I'm sure there are a lot of exceptions, but this is my overall impression from working a bit in the 4 Corners, S. Arizona, and Plains.
Hope this helps

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Jan Griffitts
Visiting Scholar
Dept. of Anthropology,
Tucson,Arizona

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________________________________
From: Bonetools [bonetools-bounces at listserv.niif.hu] on behalf of Karin Scott [kayscott at mweb.co.za]
Sent: Tuesday, February 24, 2015 3:13 AM
To: bonetools at listserv.niif.hu
Subject: [Bonetools] Lepus and Bone Tools

Dear List

Thank you to Alice for adding me.
I am an Archaeozoologist based in South Africa.  I am currently doing my Masters in comparative osteology and osteomorphology of the two hare species of southern Africa Lepus capensis (Cape hare) and Lepus saxatilis (scrub hare) .
Hares remains are found on almost all archaeological faunal assemblages here although the NISP/MNI numbers vary greatly.  As part of my osteology research I look at the archaeological and ethnological record to try and explain their presence on site.  I found a very short note in an article that hare/rabbit bones were used by native Americans to make bone tools.  It made me wonder if the same happened here with the hare bones.  Hares were also used in traditional medicine and possibly for other items such as clothing.
I would appreciate any references and/or articles that relate to the use of hares (whole, part, or bones) worldwide that can give me a starting point for investigations or speculations as to why they are always present on sites.  That is, of course, in addition to forming part of the diet.
I thank you in advance for your assistance.

Kind regards

Karin
Never argue with a dragon
For thou art crunchy
and goes well with cheese


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