g&s
Groove and Splinter technique is a method of extracting a piece of antler from antler tines which can then be used to make antler artefacts such as points and harpoons. This technique can be reconstructed from the waste material that has been recovered from sites where preservation is good e.g. Stellmoor and Star Carr.






It has been assumed that burins where predominately used for this grooving process. However, replication of the technique along with the examination of grooved antlers from Star Carr has demonstrated that, at least in the case of Star Carr, the burins cannot have been used for this purpose. Measurements of the width and depth of the grooves and demonstrated that the burins simply would not have fitted into the grooves and so cannot have been used to incise the grooves. (Mertens 1986). The awls, often assumed to be boring tools, did fit the grooves. In experimental replication the awls, being narrower and pointed, proved ideal for the task of incising the antler. The burin facets were most suitable for using in a scraping motion for the manufacture of harpoons and points. Microwear analysis confirmed that the use wear on the burin sample from Star Carr was consistent with the facets being used to scrape antler.

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“the awls do fit and are far better for grooving than burins in experimental replication of the groove and splinter technique. (Mertens 1986)

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see movie on groove & splinter technique