Bein statt Stein – Knochenartefakte aus dem bolivianischen Amazonastiefland

Abstract

The analysis of bone artefacts from the Loma Salavatierra, a big settlement mound in the Bolivian Amazon basin, enabled insights into various aspects of life in prehispanic times. The artefacts from animal materials had a wide range of functions: The large number of projectile points shows the importance of hunting for subsistence, extraordinary and elaborate adornments and grave goods show that the material was greatly valued, flutes from bird bones indicate the use in ritual context. The diachronic evaluation showed that there are notable differences in the percental significance of certain tools types over time and a change in animal species used for the production of bone artefacts. The absence of lithic raw material in the region was compensated by using bone, teeth, antler and shell for the production of artefacts, thus adapting to the environmental challenges of the surroundings.