Technological Traces on Bone Artefacts from the Late Mesolithic Forest Zone: an attempt at generalization and interpretation (case study of the site Zamostje 2)

The Mesolithic population inhabiting the Eastern European Forest zone demonstrated remarkable skill in processing bone raw materials and crafting a diverse array of implements for both strategic and domestic purposes. Our knowledge these tools and their production methods stems largely from wetland sites in the region, which have preserved an extensive collection of artеfacts – including finished products, blanks, and cuttings bearing clear technological traces. The objectives of the work include to compare traces observed on the surface of bone tools with a set of production operations available to the population of the Upper Volga region at the end of the Stone Age, as well as to evaluate their interpretation through experimental and traceological analysis. For analysis, we have chosen the multilayer site Zamostje 2, which boasts the largest collection of Late Mesolithic bone artеfacts in the Volga-Oka interfluve. The result is the revealing of ten main types of technological traces: chopping (punching), adzing, retouching, making grooves (scraping by burin), scraping, whittling, sawing/cutting, engraving, drilling/perforating and deep cutting. These techniques were used not only for standard preliminary bone processing but also for finishing tools through various combinations. Techniques of fine and artistic finishing show some cultural or chronological trends. For instance, drilling became more prevalent in the Early Neolithic, while Final Mesolithic artеfacts feature distinctive cuts with smooth bottoms of unknown origin – requiring further research with new tool types and materials for interpretation. Different techniques for making holes or side cuts may reflect the specificity of this industry.