Gizmo Quiz #81

Put on your thinking caps

[jimbeetle]

Here it is:

Gizmo [sueysplace.com]

There are similar items with (arguably) different functions. For this gizmo I'm looking for the single use that a major authority attributes to it.

[EBear]

Is it an archeological artifact?

[jimbeetle]

Archeological? To be picky, not this particular piece.

[oilman]

antler tool for something

[limbo]

Catapult?

[EBear]

Is the leftmost, thicker, piece held in the hand?

[jimbeetle]

Antler, yes.

Catapult, no.

Leftmost pice held in hand, probably.

[limbo]

twin-pot yoghurt stirrer?

[jimbeetle]

Actually, this piece is antler.

[oilman]

antler flint knapper

[jimbeetle]

Youghurt, no.

[ScottM]

is it a deer call?

[jimbeetle]

Flint knapper, no.

Deer call, no.

[EBear]

Is it used for sighting?

[korkus2000]

Is it for aiding in creating fire?

[limbo]

Part of a musical instrument?

[jimbeetle]

Sighting, no.

Fire, no.

Musical, no.

[korkus2000]

Is it an arrow straightner?

[jimbeetle]

Can't even get up to 20 questions with the folks here at WW.

You're right korkus!

[korkus2000]

This is as close as I could find.
[primitiveways.com...]

[ScottM]

is it a bottle opener?

[oilman]

way to go korkus :)

[Visi]

Hows about antler spear thrower?

[ScottM]

good one Korkus!

[jimbeetle]

That link was one I was going to pass on as a reference. Now come on, you *had* to know it was an arrow straightener to find it.

[EBear]

Well done!

[Visi]

good one korkus:)

[limbo]

Well played. How do you find it? or is arrow straightning a hobby of yours? ;)

[edited by: limbo at 4:27 pm (utc) on May 10, 2003]

[jimbeetle]

Visi, antler spear thrower is one of the other?possible? uses from Paleothic times. Here's a discussion board article on how one person used a similar object to fling darts:

[pub3.ezboard.com...]

And also possible cro-magnon use as horse bridles:

[hominids.com...]

Good show, Korkus.

[jimbeetle]

>>How do you find it? or is arrow straightning a hobby of yours?
Back in the mid 80s Natural History magazine had an extensive article on "batons de commandment" found in France. A few thousand of them turned up from cro-magnon times and the authors didn't know what they were. I knew I had seen something similar and took a walk through the american museum of natural history (publisher of the mag). Of course, they had quite a few of these things in the North American peoples halls -- all labeled either arrow, spear or shaft straighteners. Kind of always remember it as a great example of tunnel-visioned researchers.