In 1986, Mania (1986b) published the results of his preliminary examinations of the antler material from Bilzingsleben. The forms of some antler fragments seemed to resemble antler picks, known for example from Neolithic contexts. These fragments consisted of lower beams of red deer antlers with one or sometimes both lower tines preserved. Finds of this nature were interpreted as the result of intentional production of blanks. The degree of fragmentation of the lower tines was regarded as an indicator for different intensities of usage. Consequently, finds with completely missing base tines were defined by Mania (1986b) as a different type of tool, which he called antler 'cudgels', resulting from intensive use of antler picks. The transformation of a pick into a cudgel resulted, in Mania's view, in a functional change of the tool.
The aim of this examination of the antler material from the 1969-1993 excavations at Bilzingsleben is to further consider the technological and functional aspects of the material as well as examining in a little more detail, the main area of spatial distribution.
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