MAMMOTH BONE
CHOPPER / CLEAVER

CLEAVER NO. 81-32
LANGE FERGUSON SITE

SOUTH DAKOTA
COPYRIGHT OCTOBER 31, 2012 PETER A. BOSTROM
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COLLECTION OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL LABORATORY, CENTER FOR WESTERN STUDIES
AUGUSTANA COLLEGE

     This is the longest of the two cleavers that were discovered on the Lange Ferguson site. Both cleavers were made from the flat bone area from the same right scapula of an adult mammoth and they provide some of the best evidence of human-modified bone from the site. Both cleavers are described as having some bifacial flaking. A portion of the edge of this cleaver (no. 81-32) was bifacially flaked into a sinuous edge. Both of the cleavers and two other scapula fragments were articulated in such a way that it was possible to reconstruct their reduction (manufacturing) process. It's believed that this cleaver was used in the butchering process of the mammoths. It measures 17 15/16 inches (45.5 cm) long and weighs 7.28 pounds (3,302.7).

Chopper/cleaver from the Lange Ferguson site.

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