Hunter-Gatherer Bone and Antler Implements in Lithuanian Coastal Area: Recent Studies in Chronology, Technology and Decoration Patterns

Abstract

Stone Age bone and antler implements are an essential study material, as they contain important information on hunter-gatherer tool making technology, dynamics in hunted animal species, choices of raw materials and much more. Some specimens have unique engravings and incisions on their surface, enabling the studies of the decoration patterns. Moreover, organic finds can be dated by radiocarbon, allowing to approach osseous technologies from a chronological aspect. The Early and Middle Holocene sites containing hunter-gatherer bone and antler implements in Lithuanian coastal area have been discovered and investigated in the last century. The Middle Holocene osseous collection, however, has been studied only recently, shedding light on the manufacturing techniques and chronology of the tools. This paper summarizes the combination of technological, radiocarbon and decoration data of osseous implements found in Palanga and Smeltė sites, as well as the single finds (ca. 6000–3800 cal BC) discovered along the coast of Lithuania.

Keywords

• Mesolithic
• hunter-gatherers
• osseous technology
• decoration patterns
• AMS ¹⁴C dating
• coastal Lithuania.