Period: Iron Age and Middle Ages (c. AD 1-1000)

Project title: Die Geräte aus Knochen, Geweih und Horn aus der Dorfwurt Feddersen Wierde, Ldkr. Cuxhaven, und ihre Funktion. Ein beitrag zur Wirtschaftsgeschichte einer Siedlung des ersten Milleniums N. Chr.

Researcher: Katrin Struckmeyer, NIHK, Germany.

E-mail: Katrin.Struckmeyer(at)gmx.net

Year: 2007

Abstract:

On rare occasions the conditions for preservation on settlement sites are so good that implements of horn, antler and bone are preserved. The excavations of the dwelling mound Feddersen Wierde (1st mill. AD), Germany, have revealed many bone and antler tools. Some of these are interpreted as scrapers, spatulas or awls. But we do not exactly know what activities these tools were used for in detail.

A selection of implements from the Feddersen Wierde settlement were reconstructed. Followingly the reconstructions were used on different materials, such as skin, leather and linen. A cowhide was cleaned with different bone scrapers, and dry and wet leather were stretched, softened and smoothed. Linen was smoothed with the use of bone tools, and the different materials were perforated by bone awls and antler points.

In the course of the experiments, the contact with the materials caused characteristic wear patterns on the tools that differed depending on the material. For instance, the softening of leather caused a bright, strong polish and smooth striations with rounded edges on the reconstructed tools. Comparing the use wear to the wear on the original tools under the microscope, it became apparent that some of the original bone and antler tools were indeed used in the production of leather and textiles.

The experiments form part of an experimental series and the researcher’s PhD project.

Reference number: HAF 15/07