Hide working tool

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.

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Online ID:	000-100-041-197-C
Image Rights Holder:	National Museums Scotland
Project:	0098: 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
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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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