Tools of the (prehistoric) trade

Archaeological tool master Ryan Watts at Butser Ancient Farm has fashioned these exquisite antler hammers and chisels for our experiments!

Mesolithic-style chisels and hammers made of deer antler. By Ryan Watts.

In addition, he's crafted these handsome wooden wedges, which we'll use to split wood the way it might have been done 8,000 years ago.

Wooden glut or wedge. By Ryan Watts.

Two more wooden gluts. By Ryan Watts.

With these tools, we are 

1. noting the variety of tool marks made, 
2. measuring the efficiency of each on different kinds of wood (species and level of preservation), 
3. assessing the quantity and quality of wood chips produced by each type of tool on each type of wood. 

We'll also take into account the person doing the work, as the wood chips (or 'xylic debitage') produced will depend on the physical condition of the chipper. These results will then be compared to the fascinating assemblage of worked wood from the submerged Mesolithic site at Bouldnor Cliff. Along with burnt flints, canid and bovid DNA, and einkorn wheat DNA, this site has produced an incredible array of worked wood using technologies 2000 years in advance contemporaneous sites in Britain.

Article on Bouldnor Cliff in the esteemed journal
Science - 21 February 2015.

The going hypothesis is that, in response to post-glacial sea level rise, the inhabitants of Bouldnor Cliff may have been constructing a logboat out of a slow-grown oak tree. With our woodworking experiments, we aim to help modify this hypothesis and add to the knowledge of this enigmatic site and Mesolithic Britain in general.