The “Stubby” Deer Antler Billet: Examples from the Oklahoma Plains Woodland

Abstract

ABSTRACTTwo short antler billets found on the floor of a storage/refuse pit at site 34WD130 in northwestern Oklahoma provide archaeological evidence for the intentional use of “stubby” billets in flintknapping. Radiocarbon dating of one of the billets yielded an age of 650 to 662 cal AD, placing the billet within the Plains Woodland period of western Oklahoma chronology. Associated artifacts corroborate this age. Evidence for the method of billet manufacture as well as evidence of use are presented. Links provide 3D models of the pair for better viewing and hands-on access.KEYWORDS: Antler Billetlithic replicative experimentOklahomaPlains Woodland AcknowledgementsThis project was not possible without the support of local residents, including Travis Rutledge and Josh Cooke. Fieldwork was accomplished by J. Hueffed and L. Bement. Photogrammetry and modeling was performed by K. Wyatt. F. Sellet provided leads to additional archaeological billets. Logistical support was provided by the Oklahoma Archeological Survey, The University of Oklahoma. We thank the editor and two anonymous reviewers for their comments that helped strengthen this article.Disclosure StatementNo potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).Additional informationNotes on contributorsLeland C. BementLeland C. Bement is a senior archaeologist at the Oklahoma Archeological Survey, The University of Oklahoma, Norman. He specializes in faunal analysis in the North American Great Plains.John E. HueffedJohn E. Hueffed is a graduate student in the Anthropology Department at the University of Oklahoma, Norman. He is also a graduate research assistant in the State Archeologists Office at the Oklahoma Archeological Survey, The University of Oklahoma, Norman.Kristi L. WyattKristi L. Wyatt is an Emerging Technologies Librarian at the Bizzell Library, The University of Oklahoma, Norman. She is also a Museum Preparator and Associate Exhibition Designer at the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, The University of Oklahoma, Norman.