Jörg Schibler and Sabine Deschler-Erb As a conclusion to the lecture "Bones and antlers as raw material for tool making in the Neolithic and Roman periods: typology, chronology, technology and raw material" from the Master's degree program in Prehistoric and Natural Science Archaeology (FS 2009), a 2-day course in the experimental production of Neolithic tools and jewelry was held. This course has been held for several years in collaboration with the well-known experimental archaeologist Max Zurbuchen in his prehistoric workshop at the Burghalde Museum in Lenzburg.Production of bone chiselsThe metacarpal and metatarsal bones of red deer are sawn open along the sulcus using a flint blade or a flint flake and cut in two. One part of the joint is cut off by grinding a sandstone edge and the separation point is ground into a chisel edge. These solid bone chisels can be used to carve deer antlers.

Production of Neolithic jewelry bands from deer antlerNumerous fragments of point-decorated, wafer-thin deer antler bands were found in the Neolithic shore settlement of Arbon Bleiche 3. Some were pierced at the ends, so that it became clear that they were probably neck, arm or ankle bands that had been fixed around the neck or limbs with leather straps. The fine dot patterns could have been incrusted with natural dyes such as earth, red chalk or charcoal.

Meaningful and instructive combination of theory and practiceDuring the spring semester, the students were introduced to the typological (form studies), technological and chronological background of Neolithic and Roman bone and antler artifacts. In order to expand and consolidate this wealth of theoretical facts through their own practical experience, original jewelry and tool forms are always reconstructed as part of a practical course. This makes it much easier for the students to understand the technical and formal background of the original finds and also gives them an idea of the amount of work involved.

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