Atlatl Hook or Some Other Bone Tool?

[Harry Pristis]

Many years ago, I recovered this piece of worked bone in an area where many Paleo to Early Archaic artifacts have been found. My best guess is that it is an atlatl hook, though I am uncertain how it was hafted, even with the obvious grooves.

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This bone is well-mineralized, but not much degraded by stream polishing (you can still see evidence of cuts in the end-notch.) There are no apparent broken edges.

The bone is solid cortex with no evidence of the marrow cavity. Cortex that thick implies that this piece was removed from a substantial bone (including antler).

My find does not greatly resemble the obvious atlatl hook from a known Paleo site in the Aucilla River. This Aucilla hook is made of antler.

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My questions, then, are:
1. Is my find an atlatl hook, or is it some other sort of tool?
2. How was this bone piece hafted to an atlatl or to some other tool?

Speculation welcome!

 

[curious kat]

....Great advice on the crochet hook use Harry......and really like the story, sounds like Dave was sure proud of it & really likes you!