Abstract
The article presents the results of traceological studies of two harp seal bacula, from the Šventoji 3 site (coastal Lithuania). As a result of the microscopic observations carried out, technological and functional microtraces were discovered on both artefacts. The analysis of the use-wear traces, which are better readable only on one of the artefacts, allowed for a hypothesis that they arose as a result of contact with well-tanned and dry hide. This made it possible to assign to the studied artefacts the function of objects of everyday use, having direct contact with this material. The findings were illustrated with the current knowledge on the use of bacula in prehistory, historical times and among archaic communities known from ethnographic observations.
Highlights
The primary objective of this paper is to present results of traceological analyses of selected seal penis bones obtained from site Šventoji 3, on which macroscopically readable surface modifications were observed that could indicate that the bones could have been used
The microscopic studies reported in this paper were conducted to verify a hypothesis about the anthropomorphic origin of this damage and to determine the possible function of the artefacts. This was intended to provide us with the answer regarding the position the analysed items used to hold in the everyday and ritual life of the community inhabiting Šventoji 3 site, and confront obtained knowledge with recent findings on the meaning of the seal for Subneolithic communities in that region
The subject of the studies reported in this article are two specimens of the baculum called the penile bone of the harp seal (Phoca groenlandica), discovered in the course of excavation studies conducted at Šventoji 3 site, costal Lithuania (Fig. 1A, B)1
Summary
The microscopic studies reported in this paper were conducted to verify a hypothesis about the anthropomorphic origin of this damage and to determine the possible function of the artefacts This was intended to provide us with the answer regarding the position the analysed items used to hold in the everyday and ritual life of the community inhabiting Šventoji 3 site, and confront obtained knowledge with recent findings on the meaning of the seal for Subneolithic communities in that region. The results of the conducted studies were discussed in the context of current knowledge on the use of such bones in prehistoric and historic times, as well as among archaic communities known from ethnographic reports
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