Early Neolithic bone, antler and teeth artefacts from the Rakushechny Yar site (based on the materials of new excavations)

The Rakushechny Yar site is a multi-layered stratified floodplain settlement, where the Early Neolithic complexes dated to the middle of the 6th millennium BC were uncovered. This article represents analysis of bone, antler and teeth items from the shore zone of the Rakushechny Yar settlement investigated by the State Hermitage Museum expedition, which date back to 5720–5520 BC. The studied collection includes 96 objects made of bones, teeth, antler of various animals, and tortoise shell. Long bones, mainly metapodia and ribs of small ruminants, as well as red deer and roe deer antler were used for items production. Technological, functio­nal analyses and the study of complexes of various layers were carried out. Two techniques for obtai­ning bone and antler blanks, as well as methods of their secondary processing were revealed. Several categories were identified including points with sharpened one or both ends, spatulas, knives, be­veled blade implements, including massive antler items with holes, implements from beaver jaws, and non-utilitarian items. Functional analysis allowed us to identify several areas of tools’ use: processing of hides (making holes), knitting and weaving from vegetable fibers, processing of wood and clay, preparation of fishery products. In addition, items made from roe deer antlers with specific traces of use were identified. This complex has a number of similarities with local Late Mesolithic and Early Neolithic sites of the Ponto-Caspian region. Analogies of the bone industry with the predominance of points made in combination of certain techniques, together with massive antler tools and pendants were revealed in the Early Neolithic Aratashen–Shulaveri–Shomutepe culture of the South Caucasus (Transcaucasia). The analyzed complex represents a set of items and functional categories that correspond to the specificity of the economic strategy of the site.