A student of mine has been working with antler and finds frozen antler much easier to work.
 
Dr. Ariane Burke, Professeur Titulaire, 
Dept. d'anthropologie, 
Université de Montréal, 
C.P. 6128,  Succursale Centre-Ville 
Montreal, QC 
Canada,  H3C 3J7 
Tel. 514-343-6574
http://archeozoologie.anthro.umontreal.ca/
 
  
 
 

________________________________

From: Analysis of animal remains from archaeological sites on behalf of fiona beglane
Sent: Mon 2012-09-10 4:19 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [ZOOARCH] worked bone preparation



 

	I do some experimental boneworking with my undergraduates each year and find that soaking the bone for a number of days beforehand softens it up so that it can be worked more easily without random splitting and fracturing and brittleness.  Standard woodworking tools then work very well, and we have used the small wood carving sets for doing e.g. decoration.  
	Fiona
	 
	 
	  
	From: "WARMAN, Sylvia" <[log in to unmask]>
	To: [log in to unmask] 
	Sent: Monday, September 10, 2012 10:33 AM
	Subject: [ZOOARCH] worked bone preparation
	


		Hello everyone.
		 
		A friend is about to embark on a bit of experimental archaeology - to make a comb from a cattle scapula (fresh). They asked what method of preparation would be best.
		 
		I am familiar with what would make a good reference specimen, but wonder if different treatments at an early stage will make it easier to work?
		 
		Any ideas/suggestions?
		 
		Many Thanks
		
		Sylvia
		 
		Dr Sylvia Warman | Science Advisor, London 
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		Mobile Phone: 07881805347
		 
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