[Bonetools] Lepus and Bone Tools

[maltamirano]

Dear Karin,

Within the worked bone assemblage I studied for my PhD there were some 
tools made from hare humerus, and in all cases were pointed tools 
(awls). They come from the El Malagon Chalcolithic site (2800-2400 BC 
cal) in Southwest Spain (Granada Province) and were found in domestic 
contexts. It is curious that I only found them within the worked bone 
assemblage from this site, but there were no more evidences of using 
these bones at others sites.
I have attached a figure where you can have a look at some of them 
(a-e).
Hope it is useful for you.

Best,

Manuel

Manuel Altamirano García
Investigador Postdoctoral
Dpto. Prehistoria y Arqueología
Facultad de Filosofía y Letras
Campus de Cartuja s/n 18071
Universidad de Granada (España)

El 2015-02-24 22:02, Griffitts, Janet L - (griffitt) escribió:
> 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
>
> +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
>  Jan Griffitts
>  Visiting Scholar
>  Dept. of Anthropology,
>  Tucson,Arizona
>
>  +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
>
> -------------------------
>
> 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

-- 
Manuel Altamirano García
Investigador Postdoctoral
Dpto. Prehistoria y Arqueología
Facultad de Filosofía y Letras
Campus de Cartuja s/n 18071
Universidad de Granada (España)
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