[Bonetools] Fwd: [ZOOARCH] Inquiry about a bone artifact. Philippines

[Hans Christian Küchelmann]

Dear all,

I am forwarding a bonetool related question from the ZOOARCH-Mailing list here. Maybe somebody in the BONETOOLS list has ideas for Juan Rofes. Please get in touch with him directly, but don’t forget to send a CC to BONETOOLs as well.

Best

Christian
-- 
Knochenarbeit 

Hans Christian Küchelmann 

Speicherhof 4, D-28217 Bremen, Germany 
tel: +49 - 421 - 61 99 177 
mail: info at knochenarbeit.de 
web: www.knochenarbeit.de
ORCID-ID: 0000-0003-0207-3804

> Anfang der weitergeleiteten Nachricht:
> 
> Von: Juan Rofes <00004d50bd68712e-dmarc-request at JISCMAIL.AC.UK>
> Betreff: [ZOOARCH] Inquiry about a bone artifact. Philippines
> Datum: 3. Februar 2026 um 08:06:24 MEZ
> An: ZOOARCH at JISCMAIL.AC.UK
> Antwort an: Juan Rofes <jcrofes at UP.EDU.PH>
> 
> Dear Zooarch community,
> 
> May I ask your help regarding the bone artifact pictures of which are attached here?
> 
> This element comes from the Acosta Property in Sabaltan, northeast of the island of Palawan, Philippine archipelago. The best age estimates from sediments at the site ranged from the 6-10th centuries CE, what is locally known as the Metal period. It was found associated with a human burial. Other findings include imported glass and stone beads and metal objects. 
> 
> A ZooMS analysis has established it was elaborated from a dugong bone.
> 
> Our initial interpretation is that this was a piece used for personal adornment (part of a necklace?) and likely, given its context, a mortuary offering associated with the adult buried there.
> 
> Has anyone in this mailing list seen something like this before anywhere in the world either from archaeological or ethnographic records?
> 
> In case yes, is there anything published about it or anything we can refer to? It does not need to be made of dugong bone, any other animal will do.
> 
> There is a limit of 5M for attachments here, but I can send more pictures with details if needed.
> 
> I would greatly appreciate any reference, clue or suggestion.
> 
> Kind regards,
> 
> 
> Juan ROFES
> UP Scientist III
> Professor
> Head of the Zooarchaeology Laboratory
> School of Archaeology
> Albert Hall, Lakandula St.
> University of the Philippines
> Diliman, Quezon City 1101, PHILIPPINES
> E-mail: jcrofes at up.edu.ph <mailto:jcrofes at up.edu.ph>
> Phone: +632 89818500 local 2446
> 
> Research Associate [Correspondent]
> Archéozoologie, Archéobotanique: Sociétés, pratiques et environnements
> UMR 7209, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle/CNRS
> CP56, 55 rue Buffon, 75005, Paris, FRANCE
> E-mail: juan.rofes at mnhn.fr <mailto:juan.rofes at mnhn.fr>
> 
> President of the UP International Faculty Alliance
> School of Archaeology
> Albert Hall, Lakandula St.
> University of the Philippines
> Diliman, Quezon City 1101, PHILIPPINES
> 
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