Antonella De Angelis

The research aimed to evaluate the hypotheses related to the production and possible uses of a class of deer antler tools from the Bronze Age Terramara of Pragatto (Italy). These bevel-ended instruments are traditionally considered handled hoes, related to agricultural purposes such as tillage. The aim of this work was to provide an alternative interpretation of their function, possibly linked to the different morphology of their active areas. A first experimental protocol was developed to create a reference collection of the archaeological antler tools to provide information on the manufacturing technology adopted by the ancient craftsmen approximately 3500 years ago. The second stage of the experiment allowed us to assess the potential versatility of the replicated artefacts from a functional point of view, as some of them have also shown great effectiveness in woodworking activities. The final comparison between traces through a microscopic analysis of the surfaces was essential to support this latter functional hypothesis. This study allowed us to determine which tools and methods were required to produce these artefacts and, ultimately, to identify their possible multifunctions, offering perspectives in understanding their economic role within the Pragatto population.

Abstract: The assessment of criteria that define all the countless ways specialization materializes in human societies is a challenge.
In this paper, we will propose a brief overview of the criteria found in literature to identify specialization in archaeology and, then
focus especially on one of these possible criteria: the function. The integration of the use-wear approach with data from raw material,
technology and spatial analyses may reveal “functional dissimilarities” that testify specialization otherwise invisible in archaeological
contexts. In these contexts, the similarity of the spatial organization at the household level, the low characterization of the artefacts
found in it may suggest that the activities carried out were unspecialized. However, use-wear analysis may “raise to “complex” tasks.
We observed these indicators in two famous prehistoric contexts taken as case studies, Çatalhöyük (Neolithic phases, Central Anatolia)
and Arslantepe (Early Bronze Age level VIB2, Eastern Anatolia).
Our analyses underlined that in Building 97 at Çatalhöyük, “atypical” activities of tanning were carried out with one obsidian endscraper
and
one
flint
knife
of
“atypical”
large
size.
The
dimensions
and
the
morphology
of
these
tools
are
perfectly
adapted
to
a
prolonged
use
on
the
thick
hide
of
large
animals.
These
results
are
highly
evocative
of
the
possible
processing
of
the
hide
of
aurochs,
the

large
wild cattle that played an important symbolic role at Çatalhöyük.
At
Arlsantepe

VIB2, the whole community shared the simple technology applied to the production of macro-lithic tools that were
shaped and used in domestic areas. However, our analysis shed light on specialized activities carried out with macro-lithic tools in
communal areas and communal installations where villagers dedicated part of their time to metalworking, other craft activities, and the
production and cooking of special food.