Browse Items (77 total)

Awls are one of the most common bone tool types found at Late Woodland sites where the soil allows the preservation of bone. Awls are tapered, sharp pointed tools that were used to pierce and perforate hides and other materials. They also may have…

These bone awls were found at a Late Woodland site in Halifax County in the southern Piedmont. These sharp tools were used to punctuate and incise clay, to pierce deer hide, and to perforate other materials. They were produced from deer, bird, and…

Bone artifacts are common finds at Late Woodland sites, if preservation conditions allow them to survive in the soil. These bone tools were found at a site in Greensville County in the southern Piedmont. The awls (left) were used to pierce holes in…

These bone tools were found at a Late Woodland site in Halifax County in the southern Piedmont. The second object from the right is an antler projectile point. Bone projectile points were more lightweight and durable than stone points. The other…

These bone tools were found at a Late Woodland site in Halifax County in the southern Piedmont. To the left are four awls made from turkey, deer, and waterfowl bones. These sharp tools were used to punctuate and incise clay, to pierce deer hide,…

This bone beamer was found at a Late Woodland site in Montgomery County in southwestern Virginia. Beamers were made by cutting a groove into a long bone to produce two sharp, parallel edges. The tool was then used to scrape flesh and fat off of…

Bone tools do not often survive at Early Woodland sites. However, it is likely that Early Woodland people used beamers like these ones, found at a Late Woodland site in Halifax County in the southern Piedmont. Beamers were made by cutting a groove…

These bone artifacts were found at a Late Woodland site in Halifax County in the southern Piedmont. They include, from left to right: a lightly ground section for the mandible of a garfish; a needle fashioned from the mandible of a garfish, which…

Bone tools are commonly found at Middle to Late Woodland sites. The largest item in this photo is a deer ulna that was made into a perforating tool, probably for hideworking. Also shown are two smaller pieces of worked bone and a fish hook. These…

These bone artifacts were found at a Late Woodland site in Greensville County in the southern Piedmont. They include a beamer (far bottom) used for hideworking, awls (left) with sharp tips used for piercing, incising, or perforating, a needle (far…