[Bonetools] Undetermined Neolithic bone object

[Petar Zidarov]

Dear Manuel,
The choice of raw material (rib) is a bit odd, but flattened pieces of cattle long bones are commonly used for the production of bone rings, including finger rings during the Neolithic in the Near East and across Europe.
 The first reference of general overview on that topic that comes to my mind is Isabelle Sidera's contribution to the WBRG volume from Tallinn.
Since your people seemingly didn't use a hollow drill, but simple flint borer, it was easier to them to carve the holes first, while immobilizing the rib. Then they would have only needed to saw the bone transversely and finish the outer edge by grinding or scraping.
I hope that this hypothesis could be a good starting point.
Best wishes,
Petar 

-----Оригинално съобщение-----
От: "maltamirano" <maltamirano at ugr.es>
Изпратено: ‎25.‎6.‎2016 ‎г. 14:46
До: "bonetools at listserv.niif.hu" <bonetools at listserv.niif.hu>
Тема: [Bonetools] Undetermined Neolithic bone object


Dear colleagues,
I am studying a worked bone assemblage from a Neolithic cave site in 
Granada, Spain. Among the typical pointed tools and some ornaments, I 
have found this object, which I have no idea about its function. It 
seems to have been made on a cattle rib. Its surfaces display evidences 
of abrasion for shaping. It meassures 8cm mong aprox. We have no 
evidences of bone beads,so the holes may have had a different purpose. 
Does anyone have any suggestions?
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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