Hunted or something else? Investigating ‘after-impact’ perforations in prehistoric seal scapulae from Šventoji, Lithuania

Abstract

Animal scapulae bearing distinct holes (in some cases, even more than one or two) have been found in several European prehistoric sites and have mainly been associated with the hunter-gatherer-fisher communities. The genesis of such holes is usually interpreted unambiguously, i.e. they are considered to be associated with hunting, during which the scapula might have been hit with a point or harpoon. Artefacts of this type have been found in the Subneolithic sites in Šventoji (coastal Lithuania). This study discusses the results of the traceological studies of such scapulae and the experimental programme implemented for their needs. The microscopic analysis of the impact marks of experimentally perforated scapulae created via various osseous and flint points forms the basis for studying the direction and angles in which the Šventoji scapulae could have been perforated. Thus, an alternative hypothesis for the genesis of holes on these artefacts is proposed, i.e. suggesting their connection with meat smoking or roasting.