Some of the commonest bone implements included bodkins of various shapes and sizes, different awls, daggers, trowels and smoothers (bluntly terminated flat sticks, often shinily smooth from wear) and picks for digging, made from reindeer antlers.
Shovel-like tools –trowels
Material: bone
Dimensions (length): 46 and 54 cm
Exhibit type: copy of original (plaster)
Archaeological site: Pavlov I (Pavlov near Dolní Věstonice, Moravia)
Collection: Institute of Archaeology of the CAS, Brno v.v.i., Czech Republic
Spoon- and shovel-like tools – spatulas, were typical bone tools during the Gravettian. These were markedly different in size and shape and very likely had diverse functions as shovels, clubs, blunt projectiles and smoothers or else were used as multipurpose tools. Some of these have their entire surfaces decorated with carved geometrical ornamentation (→ exhibit 11.10).
Hoe-like pick from reindeer antler
Material: reindeer antler
Dimensions (length): 42 cm
Exhibit type: copy of original (plaster)
Archaeological site: Pavlov I (Pavlov near Dolní Věstonice, Moravia)
Collection: Institute of Archaeology of the CAS, Brno v.v.i., Czech Republic
Like trowels, picks made from reindeer antlers come in a range of shapes and sizes. Their purpose was primarily to work with soil, but they might also have been used for other activities, for example tanning etc.
Blunt projectile with tang
Material: bone
Dimensions (length): 17 cm
Exhibit type: copy of original (plaster)
Archaeological site: Pavlov I (Pavlov near Dolní Věstonice, Moravia)
Collection: Institute of Archaeology of the CAS, Brno v.v.i., Czech Republic
The shorter “leaf-shaped”, tanged projectile with a blunt point is interpreted as a special kind of point used to hunt birds or animals for fur, and manufactured without sharp point so as not to damage the pelt.
Fragment of a bone tool with deep groove
Material: bone
Dimensions (length): 10 cm
Exhibit type: copy of original (plaster)
Archaeological site: Dolní Věstonice I (Dolní Věstonice, Moravia)
Collection: Moravian Museum in Brno, Czech Republic
Bone bodkins
Material: bone
Dimensions (height): 130, 100, 60, 50 and 40 mm
Exhibit type: originals
Archaeological site:Pavlov I (Pavlov near Dolní Věstonice, Moravia)
Among everyday bone implements used during the Gravettian are bodkins of all shapes and sizes. The finest of them are a functional forerunner of the needle.
