Deer antler mace-heads from the Late Bronze Age in Northeastern Romania

Abstract

In the northeastern part of Romania (namely in Botoșani County) several deer antler mace-heads were identified in the last decades. The three artifacts discussed here come from settlements of the Late Bronze Age, the Noua culture. All the items were made from segments from the lower part of the antler, being subsequently perforated. In order to understand the manner of their manufacture, experimental archaeology data were also brought into discussion. There are very good analogies in Bronze Age cultural contexts for the specimens that are the object of our study. These items could have been used as weapons, but most likely they had certain social significance

Keywords

• late bronze age
• antler mace-heads
• social symbol
• romania