This Artifact Was Unknown Before Ötzi the Iceman [2:55]

YouTube ^ | September 25, 2025 | Dr. Smiti Nathan

[SunkenCiv]

This Artifact Was Unknown Before Ötzi the Iceman | 2:55 
Dr. Smiti Nathan | 22.6K subscribers | 83,388 views | September 25, 2025

[Deaf Smith]

Yes, one can see the Go/No Go markings.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks 's' for the link!

[Red Badger]

This pic is very similar to mine except it's not formed yet

[Red Badger]

The 0.010 leaf is missing................

[SunkenCiv]

There are some topics about his DNA, up top. 🧬😊

[Empire_of_Liberty]

Thank you for making me look. It appears that both types of antler tools are common. Large, heavy ones for flaking and course design, I suppose. Several come to a small point, for sharpening.

I agree with you that antler is not as hard as flint, but it may not have to be. Significantly less of the flint is affected by either tool. Force is concentrated.

I think you are onto something with the bow-string notch, as well. This would be entirely unneeded for flint sharpening. It is more, as you suggest, an awl for much softer materials.

Perhaps this one tool served both purposes.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks!

[Red Badger]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flint

[Rockingham]

Deer antler does not have to be harder than flint to shear off flakes and leave a fresh sharp edge.

[ComputerGuy]

The material looks like it may have been worked.
I find lots of rocks that were smashed open to expose the core.
They almost always have conchoidal scars on them.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks!

I wish I could remember the nick of the knapper I know, uh, other than his name, here on FR.

[KingLudd]

Here is a replica of a pretty small needle from prehistory:

https://www.occpaleo.com/product-page/neanderthal-needle-replica-denisova-cave

[Alas Babylon!]

I cannot imaging trying to use this tool to flake it into an ax or knife................

You're right in regards to a big piece of flint.

But, when you use a larger hammer tool to hammer off a large blade you then use the smaller, softer point to take out very tiny flakes along the edge to make the overall blade sharper.

If you tried the hammer tool to make small flakes you'd probably shatter the entire blade.

We humans have known for a very long time the adage, "The right tool for the right job."

[Red Badger]

Not far, a couple miles, from where I found this piece of flint, I also found a real arrowhead, though not of the same materials.

It appeared to have been recycled from a broken arrowhead since the pointy end was missing and had been rounded and reshaped..............

[Red Badger]

My piece is translucent and if you hold it up to the sun you can see light thru parts of it...........

[Telepathic Intruder]

In fact deer antler is commonly used for this purpose specifically because it is softer than the stone.

[T.B. Yoits]

That nib is for taking up the slack in cassette tapes.

[ComputerGuy]

I have lots of scrapers that were made from points where the tip had been broken off.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

***1:39 · was used to sharpen flint blades.***

BINGO! Flint knappers today use an instrument just like that with a point of copper. I made one with a brazing rod in the end. Copper and antler work the same way for sharpening flint tools.
https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/d0wAAOSw~I5lwEQw/s-l1600.webp

[Red Badger]

That’s what I thought this was turned into, a scraper.........