Functional Analysis of Prehistoric Bone Instruments from the Uruguayan Atlantic Coast

Abstract

In this paper we present the results of the microscopic analysis on a set of working tools made of hard animal tissue raw materials (bone and antler). These artifacts were found in La Esmeralda, a prehistoric shell midden settled in the Uruguayan Atlantic Coast. This work is the first attempt to use microscopic techniques to detect and interpret use and technological traces on bone tools recovered in Uruguay. Even though not every tool was analyzed with these techniques, in some cases we have obtained interesting results, which open new perspectives and expectations regarding to this subject.