Bone Tools

[The Grim Reaper]

I'm snowed in here big time after that massive storm went through this week. We had 7 inches of snow on Monday night and into Tuesday morning, followed by 3/4 inch of ice all day Tuesday and then another 2 inches of snow on Weds morning so there's no hunting here for and I thought I'd post a few items.

These are some of my better Bone Tools. There are some Trigger Bone Awls, a nice Bone Chisel, some Deer Antler Arrowpoints and Flaking Tools, some Splinter Bone Awls, a couple Bone Needles, and some other odds and ends. All of these came from Ft Ancient village sites here in southern Ohio and date from around 950 to 1650 AD.

Hope you enjoy the pictures.

 

[The Grim Reaper]

One more picture of a tray with some Trigger Bone Awls, some Deer Antler Tools, and some Splinter Bone Awls in it.

 

[*Molly*]

Steve the pic names pottery30, in the middle of that frame, are those drilled teeth?
The reason I ask is I am looking for enough to make a necklace but I haven't seen any I really like yet, seems the sharks teeth aint what I'm looking for, they look a nice enamel, can you give me some info on them..
Thats some neat artifacts you have there, never get bored of seeing what you collected over the years.

Thanks for sharing.

Molly.

 

[The Grim Reaper]

Yeah Molly, that's what they are. here a picture of the Drilled Teeth I have found, at least the good ones anyway. These aren't that easy to find, though we do find them on our Ft Ancient sites. Some years you don't find any and then I will have a year like this year were I found 6, including the double drilled Wolf Molar.

I have a few that aren't drilled and are in decent shape. How many do you need? I could drill them for you with my Dremel and send them to you if you'd like. Let me know.

 

[Th3rty7]

impressive collection of bone tools dorkfish. were trigger awls used for knapping(pressure flaking) or some other task?

 

[*Molly*]

Steve, thats very kind of you to offer. I have been looking for over a year for just the right kind. I want to make a necklace, I have some bone beads too, I didn't want a big bulky necklace, just something with maybe 3 or 4 teeth on it. The bottom teeth look a good size, if they are that size, if they are bigger then 1 or 2 would be fine. Thankyou very much..

I will post the necklace soon has I have made it.

Molly.

 

[The Grim Reaper]

impressive collection of bone tools dorkfish. were trigger awls used for knapping(pressure flaking) or some other task?

Thanks thirty7. I was always under the impression they used as Awls for leather working. But some may have been used for flaking purposes.

Molly, I'll go through my boxes and get some nice ones for you send them your way.

I know this isn't a very good picture, but if you look on the right hand side of this photo right before the red, white, and blue ribbon you can see a necklace hanging on the wall that I made for my son to take to school back when he was around 10 years old. It has quite a few teeth on it and I'm sure I can get some good ones off of it.

 

[*Molly*]

That look pretty, shame to take it apart though.

Molly.

 

[The Grim Reaper]

It's nothing special. It's mostly broken Bone Beads and some teeth that I drilled just so he could take an "Indian Necklace" into school for a project they were doing when he was in the 4th or 5th grade.

 

[RobKruzan]

Awsome bone tool collection musta takin years to collect all that.

 

[Flintfinder of Mo.]

Hey Steve, I am just floored sometimes when looking at your personal find collection. You have some great sites. The bone is awesome, but the drilled teeth take the cake for me. I've never found one, and don't know anyone around here who has. I think it would be a great honor to find something That was worn as an ornament by the peoples. Do you know, do the drilled teeth have any have any other purpose? John

 

[The Grim Reaper]

Hey Steve, I am just floored sometimes when looking at your personal find collection. You have some great sites. The bone is awesome, but the drilled teeth take the cake for me. I've never found one, and don't know anyone around here who has. I think it would be a great honor to find something That was worn as an ornament by the peoples. Do you know, do the drilled teeth have any have any other purpose? John

Thanks John, I aprreciate the comments on my collection.

As for the teeth, I have always theorized that they were probably taken from a kill that they made and then worn in honor of the animal. Like if they killed a bear then they would take out the teeth and put them on a necklace to wear as a badge of honor. Just a guess, but it makes sense to me since they were so in tune with nature and thier surroundings.

 

[seger98]

Steve, what are those in the last photo? I've seen alot of alligator teeth and that's what that picture reminds me of.

Nice colletion.


Chris

 

[The Grim Reaper]

Steve, what are those in the last photo? I've seen alot of alligator teeth and that's what that picture reminds me of.

Nice colletion.


Chris

Those are drilled animal teeth. They are a combination of Bear, Wolf, Fox, Dog, and other small animals. No gators here in southern Ohio, thank God. lol

 

[seger98]

Just so we are on the same page, this is the photo I was talking about, gators have hollow teeth like this.

 

[*Molly*]

I don't think I would like gators teeth around my neck..

Molly.

 

[The Grim Reaper]

seger98, those are Deer Antler Arrowpoints and Flakers. They would cut off the ends of the tines on the antlers and then hollow them out for hafting. Some of them were sharpened to a point for arrows and some were just used as flaking tools.

Here another picture of those same pieces.

 

[Carolina Points]

Nice finds Dfish I have never found any bone artifacts, I think our soil is to acidic it being red clay and all, Thanks for the show very very nice
Clint

 

[Th3rty7]

I really enjoy looking at your Fort Ancient museum. I recently purchased a Fort Ancient knife, the workmanship is superb, seriously one of the finest pieces of flint I own. It's super thin, and every centimeter is delicately worked.

 

[seger98]

Ahhhhhh ok, that explains it better, it was just my first thought when I seen them, thanks for clearing it up for me.


Chris