South Dakota State Historical Society
Archaeological Research Center

Bone Tools

Bone is a durable yet easily worked material for both the utensils of everyday life and ornamentation. The hard, dense long bones of animals such as bison were grooved using chipped stone burins and gravers, after which splinters or other blanks were pried loose. Sandstone or other rough stones could be used to grind the tool into rough shape, after which it was smoothed and polished into final form. Other bones such as shoulder blades could be trimmed by rougher methods and formed into hoes for cultivating gardens.

Here are some of the bone tools which may be found at the Archaeological Research Center. Just click on any of the small pictures to learn more:

Fish hook

Scapula hoe

Awls

Shaft wrench

Bracelet