EXARC Journal (May 2015)
How Did They Drill That? – A Few Observations on the Possible Methods for Making Large-sized Holes in Antler
Abstract
From the Neolithic period comes a whole range of various kinds of artefacts made of antler (for example axes, hammer-adzes), distinguished by the presence of a large hole (diameter over 2 cm) in their structure. With time, archaeologists started to wonder about possible ways of producing holes of this type, as besides their size, they are also quite regular (in the majority of cases their inner walls are smooth), with their inlet parts are the same diameter on both sides. This encouraged researchers to suggest that the holes had to be produced with the help of special drill bits (most probably made of bone or wood), designed for some kind of drilling devices (Bagniewski 1992, 28; Kempisty 1961, 138; Korobkowa 1999:, 99; Pratsch 2006; Riedel et al. 2004, 202-203). The above issue became a starting point for conducting an experiment, designed to test the suitability and effectiveness of wooden, osseous and flint drill bits in obtaining this type of large perforations.
