Gaby
Eight years ago, archaeologists uncovered a beautifully decorated deer antler dating back 7,500 years at the Strandvägen archaeological site in central Sweden. Now, thanks to cutting-edge technology, researchers have finally determined how this artifact was used by the ancient inhabitants of the region.
According to a new study from Lund University and the Swedish National Historical Museum, the antler initially served as a battle axe before being transformed into a fishing harpoon.
“It was likely used as a battle axe. Several horn axes found in modern Denmark show significant damage from heavy use,” said Lars Larsson, the lead author of the study and a professor of archaeology at Lund University, in an interview with Live Science.
What else did the researchers find?
The antler was discovered on a stone platform in a river flowing from Lake Vättern to the Baltic Sea. Alongside it, archaeologists found other artifacts, including a bone needle, fishing hooks, stone axe blades, engraved animal bones, and 20 fragments of human skulls. This area was home to a settlement during the Mesolithic period.
Due to the high acidity of soils in Sweden, organic materials typically decompose without leaving traces. However, Strandvägen is exceptional: it is one of the few sites where organic materials, such as antlers, are well-preserved. That preservation is partly because the organic items were often submerged in water and because the local soils are less acidic.
Earlier, scientists used radiocarbon dating on bones and artifacts to determine that the region was inhabited from 5800 to 5000 B.C. Groups of hunter-gatherers used the surrounding forests for hunting and the lake for fishing.
From axe to harpoon
The antler, measuring 10.7 cm in length and 2.1 cm in width, once belonged to a red deer (Cervus elaphus). Radiocarbon dating of the resin found in the grooves indicated the antler is approximately 7,500 years old.
To better understand the artifact’s history, Larsson and his co-author Fredrik Molin, an archaeologist at the Swedish National Historical Museum, examined it with a digital microscope.
The analysis revealed that the antler was initially processed with abrasives, and then ancient craftsmen carved intricate patterns on its surface using flint tools. They rubbed resin into the grooves to enhance the designs.
The researchers believe several people worked on the antler. Some patterns were less precise and were smoothed out to make room for new carvings. Some craftsmen appear to have been more skilled than others.
Such antlers were attached to sharpened bones or stone blades, creating a battle axe. With heavy use, these artifacts develop characteristic signs of breakage, which were also present on this piece. Thus, the researchers had no doubt about its original purpose.
Further analysis suggested the axe was likely repurposed into a harpoon. The burial of the artifact alongside other valuable items and human remains led Larsson and Molin to consider that the antler was ultimately used for sacrificial purposes.
