A functional analysis of some stone and bone implements from Neolithic lake dwelling sites: Arbon Bleiche 3 and Sutz Lattrigen Aussen, Switzerland.

The goal of this study was to check the potential for use-wear analysis on the stone, bone and antler tools from lake dwelling sites of Switzerland. In the future the sample will be expanded to include more specimens of different tool types. All examined stone tools come from Arbon Bleiche 3 (AB3) and bone and antler implements from the assemblage recovered at Sutz Lattrigen Aussen (LA) and have been selected on the condition of their preservation. Experimental data using flint and bone tools will be presented as well. Yet, results offered here should be seen as preliminary. AB 3, the site on the southern shore of Lake Constance (Canton Thurgau) represents a transitional period between Pfyn and Horgen cultures. Alongside a variety of organic materials, 1786 lithic artefacts were also collected. For traceological analysis a selection of typological end scrapers was taken. Almost all of analysed end-scarpers are attributed to hide processing, some showing traces of resharpening. A few items showed traces of working more than one material. Usually, the proximal end was in contact with hide and the one edge were reaping cereals, cutting siliceous wild plants, or whittling fresh wood. Furthermore it seems that many of end scrapers were hafted. The use-wear analyses of a small number of bone and antler specimens from late Neolithic site of LA showed that they were used in a variety of activities. One of the main features of this assemblage is the presence of a significant number of formally worked pointed implements. They seem to have been used for working with plant and animal material. It appears that the combined study of traceological, technological and typological approaches on all artefact categories would help to reconstruct, as entirely as possible, and the principal economic and technological activities of Neolithic populations.