North America, Native American, ca. 1200 to 1800 CE. An impressive collection of 12 awls, finely sculpted from deer bone and deliberately blackened from fire. All smoothed from wear, each presents a lengthy, slender body with a groove down the center. Bone awls, also called perforators, are some of the most interesting and ubiquitous artifacts found from ancient North America, essentially tapered, carefully shaped bones that have been carved to form a point at one end and some kind of gripping area at the other. Primarily used by women, they were used to make basketry and other forms of weaving as well as to punch holes in skins or leather. Size (of largest): 7" L x 0.375" W (17.8 cm x 1 cm)

Provenance: private Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA collection; ex-Dr. David Harner collection, Springdale, Arkansas, USA, acquired between the 1950s and 1960s

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#166900

Most have losses to tips and 1 has loss to side. Expected surface wear, such as nicks, chips, and abrasions to all, commensurate with age and use. Otherwise, all are very nice with light earthen deposits.