Hide working tool

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This antler tool, perhaps for working hides, was found at Distillery Cave at Oban in Argyll. It was used sometime between 7500 and 1000 BC.

The spatula-like tool has a notch in the middle. It is worn smooth.

There were three stages to prepare a skin to make leather. First the hide was removed from a dead animal using knives. Next, it was cleaned. Then it was preserved by rubbing salt, a mineral like alum or oils into it, using tools such as this one.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-100-041-197-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  X.HL 382
• Date: Between 7500 and 1000 BC
  
• Material: Horn, deer; spatula-like; smoothed all over
  
• Dimensions: 150 mm L
  
• What:
• Subject:
• Who:
• Where: Scotland, Argyll, Oban, Distillery Cave
  
• Event:
• Description: Spatula-like hide-working tool of antler, from Distillery Cave, Oban
  
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