PAGE 1
PIERCED STAFFS
NORTH AMERICA & EUROPE
30,000 T0 100 YEARS BEFORE PRESENT
PAGE 1 OF 1 PAGE
COPYRIGHT FEBRUARY 28, 2009 PETER A. BOSTROM
Murray Springs site bone "wrench."
CLICK ON PICTURE FOR FULL IMAGE OF ARTIFACT
PIERCED STAFF
CLOVIS CULTURE
MURRAY SPRINGS SITE, ARIZONA

   The above picture shows the only pierced staff ever found on a Clovis site in North America. It was discovered in two pieces below a "black mat" on the Murray Springs site in Arizona. Authors refer to this artifact as either a shaft straightener, shaft wrench or bone wrench. It is very similar to examples that have been found on Upper Paleolithic sites in Europe. The purpose of these artifacts is not clearly known. But as Gary Haynes states in "The Early Settlement Of North American, The Clovis Era, "----their applicability to straightening spear shafts is as good a guess as any." Although many pierced staffs from Europe are engraved and carved with either geometric designs or animals, the Murray Springs bone wrench is plain. The interior of the hole does not show any polishing or rounding but it does have pronounced beveling at the top and bottom of the interior hole. The hole measures between 1 and 1 3/16 inches (2.5 to 3 cm) wide. The Murray Springs Clovis "wrench" is made of bone and it measures 10 1/4 inches (25.9 cm) long.

Abstract image of pierced staffs from Ohio.

ABSTRACT
PIERCED STAFFS
NORTH AMERICA & EUROPE
30,000 T0 100 YEARS BEFORE PRESENT

    Pierced staffs have been found on many Stone Age sites in Europe and North America. They first appear during the Aurignacian period in Europe and continue to be made until the end of the Magdalenian period. In North America, most examples come from Eskimo sites, with the exception of one found on a Clovis site in Arizona. Pierced staffs were made for a variety of different purposes. This report illustrates several examples from many different sites, cultures and time periods.

    "Only a single specimen of a worked bone with a hole bored through one widened end is known from all of North America (referring to the Murray Springs "wrench")."---2002, Gary Haynes, "The Early Settlement Of North America, The Clovis Era," p. 122.
    "---we discovered that the tool (referring to replicas of the Murray Springs "wrench"), used in pairs, and used in conjunction with the application of heat is quite effective in working the minor curves and bends out of a shaft."---1999, Roderick D. Laird, "Experiments Confirm Likely Usage of Murray Springs Bone Tool," Mammoth Trumpet, Vol. No. 2, p. 19.
    "Baton de Commandement: Implement made from antler with a cylindrical hole at one end, Often decorated, dating from the Aurignacian to the Upper Magdalenian. Interpretations vary from the symbolic to it being a spear-thrower or arrow-straightener."
---1973, Francois Bordes, "The Old Stone Age," p. 242.
  
"Opinions differ concerning the use of these ornamented antler objects, but batons of command they surely were not. The holes, which are often broken, suggest their use as spearshaft straighteners."---1983, Herbert C. Kraft & Gabriel De Cicco, "The Search For Humanity's Roots," p. 42.
    "Bone pins and needles of Magdalenian type also came to light (referring to excavations in 1895 at Les Hoteaux, France) associated with the body, and there was one of the mysterious instruments commonly called "batons de commandement," adorned with the figure of a stag engraved upon it, lying beside the right thigh."---1921, R. A. S. MacCalister, "A Text Book Of European Archaeology," p. 383.
    "Pierced staffs appear (in Europe) from the Aurignacian (28,000 B.C.) to the terminal Magdalenian (9,000 B.C.)."---1967, Andre Leroi-Gourhan, "Treasures Of Prehistoric Art," p. 472.
    "Baton: Prepared horn of reindeer or stag with one or more perforations, and generally ornamented by means of engravings or carvings in the round."---1933, George Grant MacCurdy, "Human Origins, A Manual Of Prehistory, Vol. 1," p. XXVI.

Abstract image, pierced staffs from Ohio.
 
PIERCED STAFFS
NORTH AMERICA & EUROPE
30,000 T0 100 YEARS BEFORE PRESENT

   Pierced staff is a general term used to describe short lengths of antler, bone, ivory, or wood that have one hole of varying diameter located at one end. These similarly shaped artifacts were produced over a long period of time in Europe and North America. Although they may be similar in shape they were used for different purposes. Some examples may have been multi-functional, making a clear interpretation of their original purpose difficult. Authors will sometimes suggest a use for a pierced staff but say "it's a best guess." Evidence of the uncertainty is reflected in the names that have been used in publications to describe them, such as, baton, batons de commandement, pierced staff, pierced club, pierced baton, spear straightener, shaft straightener, shaft wrench, arrow straightener, spear straightener, spear throwers, thong smoothers, thong stropper, and spinning tool.

Pierced staff, Magdalenian period, Dordogne, France.
TOP IMAGE FROM A CAST IN LITHIC CASTING LABS PRIVATE COLLECTION
LOWER TWO MAGES FROM 1896 SMITHSONIAN ANNUAL REPORT

PIERCED STAFF
MAGDALENIAN PERIOD
La MADELEINE ROCK SHELTER
DORDOGNE, FRANCE

     This pierced staff was excavated sometime in the 1800's at the La Madeleine Rock Shelter site located in the south of France. It is decorated with three horses on one side and four on the other. The horse is the most commonly used image on Upper Paleolithic pierced staffs. This example is made of either stag or reindeer antler. It measures 12 1/4 inches (31.1 cm) long.

     Pierced staffs first appear on Aurignacian sites in Europe approximately 30,000 years ago and they continued to be made until the end of the Magdalenian period approximately 11,000 years ago. In North America, the only example found on a Clovis site was discovered on the Murray Springs site in Arizona. The Murray Springs "wrench" is the oldest pierced staff found in the Americas. It dates to approximately 11,000 years ago. In the northern regions of North America, pierced staffs were being used much more recently by Eskimo cultures until European contact. Another example, illustrated in this article, from California was used by Hupa Indians in recent times. In Greenland, another type of pierced staff, with holes to small for arrow shafts, were used as thong smoothers.

Pierced staffs from Indiana, Alaska and Ohio.
CLICK ON PICTURE FOR LARGER IMAGE
PIERCED STAFFS
INDIANA, ALASKA & OHIO
CRIB MOUND (INDIANA) & MADISONVILLE SITE (OHIO)
PRIVATE COLLECTION

   This picture shows three different examples of pierced staffs from different areas of North America. The example on the left was found many years ago by Chalmer Lynch who discovered it washing out into the Ohio River at Crib Mound in southern Indiana. It's believed to date to the Archaic period. The pierced staff in the center is identified as an Eskimo arrow shaft straightener dating to sometime between 200 B.C. and A.D. 700. The pierced staff on the right was found on the Madisonville Fort Ancient site which is located 25 miles north of Cincinnati.

    The most elaborately decorated pierced staffs were made in Europe during the upper Paleolithic period. In describing the pierced staff from the Grotto of Montgaudier, illustrated in this article, Wilson writes in 1886, "The work is so fine that it requires a magnifying glass to bring out all its beauty." The most common image found on European pierced staffs are horses. Eskimo pierced staffs are also decorated with a wide variety of engraved and three-dimensional carvings of animals and humans.

Three pierced staffs from different sites in Alaska.
IMAGES FROM 1895 SMITHSONIAN ANNUAL REPORT
PIERCED STAFFS
ALASKA
DIOMEDE ISLANDS, NUBUIAKCHUGALUK & CAPE DARBY
SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION COLLECTION

    These three pierced staffs are referred to by Walter Hoffman as either arrow or spear straighteners. He comments that "Several Alaskan utensils, however, used as arrow and spear straighteners are here illustrated and are apparently similar to some like remains from the caves of France figured by Messrs. Lartet and Christy." A higher percentage of Eskimo pierced staffs have rectangular holes. Two corners will be in parallel alignment with the length of the staff like the examples illustrated here.

     The oldest and most famous pierced staff found in North America is the Murray Springs "wrench."  It is often referred to as a shaft straightener, shaft wrench or bone wrench. This "wrench" is similar in shape and age to some of the European Upper Paleolithic examples. Although the European models were often decoratively engraved with images of animals, mostly horses, the Murray Springs "wrench" is plain. The interior of the hole does not show any polishing or rounding but it does have pronounced beveling at the top and bottom of the interior hole.

Two pierced staffs from Upper Paleolithic sites in France.
IMAGES FROM 1898 SMITHSONIAN ANNUAL REPORT
PIERCED STAFFS
UPPER PALEOLITHIC
FRANCE

La MADELAINE, DORDOGNE & GROTTO OF MONTGAUDIER
SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION COLLECTION

    These two pierced staffs were excavated from Upper Paleolithic sites in France. They are made of reindeer antlers and are referred to, in early publications, as Baton de Commandements. The example at top is a good illustration of a pierced staff with multiple holes. Although most pierced staffs only have one hole, this one has four holes and it's decorated with curving lines and notches. The lower pierced staff was discovered in 1886 in the Grotto of Montgaudier near the west coast of France. It is highly decorated with several different engravings of animal and plant life. One side is engraved with two snakes or eels and the other side has seals, fish and stalks of wheat. Wilson describes it in 1886 as, "The work is so fine that it requires a magnifying glass to bring out all its beauty."

     Pierced staffs are made of organic materials. Most examples from Europe were made from reindeer antler. Pierced staffs from North America and elsewhere were made from antler, bone, ivory and wood. They are not very long. The Murray Springs Clovis "wrench" measures 10 1/4 inches (25.9 cm) long. Other pierced staffs range in size from 10 to 12 1/2 inches (25 to 31.7 cm).

Pierced staff from a Magdalenian burial in France.
IMAGE FROM 1921 MacALISTER, "A Text-Book Of European Archaeology"
PIERCED STAFF
GROTTE de HOTEAUX
SOUTHWESTERN FRANCE

MAGDALENIAN PERIOD

    This pierced staff was found during the excavation, in 1895, of a fully articulated Magdalenian period burial of a 16 to 18 year old male. It was discovered laying parallel with the right femur. It's very similar in shape, size and age to the example found on the Murray Springs Clovis site in Arizona. One difference is that it's engraved with the figure of a stag and the Murray Springs "wrench" is not decorated. Other artifacts found with this burial are described as Magdalenian form flints and ornaments made of perforated pecten shell and teeth.

   Some experiments have been done that show possible uses for pierced staffs. They do seem to work as tools to straighten the shafts of arrows, spears and lances. Many of the Upper Paleolithic pierced staffs are broken apart at the holes, indicating the area where the most stress was concentrated. The size of the holes along with interior beveling of the holes are also indicators that they may have been used for shaft straightening. Unless the hole is beveled a sharper edge will tend to crease of break the shaft. Larger holes would have been used to straighten heavier spears and lances. An example of a spear straightener might be the Murray Springs "wrench" which measures between 1 and 1 3/16 inches (2.5 to 3 cm) wide in the hole. Smaller holes that measure from 3/16 to 3/4 inch (10 to 19 mm) wide would suggest arrow shaft straighteners. Smooth rounded holes may indicate they were used to process fibers for making rope, baskets, sleds or hide boats.

Two pierced staffs from Alaska and California.
IMAGES FROM 1899 SMITHSONIAN ANNUAL REPORT
PIERCED STAFFS
ALASKA & CALIFORNIA
ESKIMO AND HUPA

IVORY & YEW WOOD
SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION COLLECTION

    Both of these artifacts are described as arrow shaft straighteners. The example at top is described as an Eskimo arrow shaft straightener made of ivory. Many Eskimo pierced staffs have rectangular holes that are aligned with two of the corners parallel with the shaft, like this one. The lower pierced staff was made by Hupa Indians of California. Although it is also described as an arrow shaft straightener it has a hole in the center of the shaft rather than at one end. It is made of yew wood and measures 10 inches )25.5 cm) long.

      Pierced staffs seem to be discovered singularly rather than in pairs. One experiment in shaft straightening suggested that two might be needed to accomplished the task of straightening a spear shaft. But they are not reported to be found in pairs. Pierced staffs have been found in burials. At the site of Grotte des Hoteaux in southwestern France, the burial of a 16 to 18 year old male was discovered in 1895 along with Magdalenian artifacts. The most significant artifact found was a pierced staff very similar in shape to the one found at Murray Springs. It was located at the right side lying in parallel with the femur. Another example is the excavation of an Eskimo burial at Ipiutak, Alaska, as reported by Larsen in 1948. The excavation produced a single and complete pierced staff that was described as an arrow straightener made of ivory.

Two "madmen" fiber spinners from Iceland.
PIERCED STAFFS ("MADMEN")
ICELAND
PRIVATE COLLECTIONS

    This picture illustrates two examples of rope spinning devices known as "madman" or "mad spindle." They were used in Iceland to twist hair into cord. The two top items in the picture show a complete set that includes a handle and a spindle or spinner. The lower item in the picture shows a portion of a spindle that is carved into the shape of a hand.

    The most common bone and antler artifacts found on Upper Paleolithic sites in Europe, next to awls, are pierced staffs. It's amazing that only one example has ever been found on Clovis sites in North America. It's even more amazing that the single example was found almost completely intact. Hopefully, another one will be discovered someday in the future. Pierced staffs have been used for an extraordinary length of time by many different cultures who were separated by great distances. No matter how they were used they were obviously necessary tools that stood the test of time.

"REFERENCES"

1897, Hoffman, Walter James, "The Graphic Art Of The Eskimos," Annual Report Of The Smithsonian Institution, pp. 765.
1896
, Wilson, Thomas, "Prehistoric Art," Annual Report Of The Smithsonian Institution, pp. 886-388.
1899
, Wilson, Thomas, "Arrowpoints, Spearheads, And Knives Of Prehistoric Times," Annual Report Of The Smithsonian Institution, p. 764, plate 8.
1921
, MacCalister, R. A. S. "A Text Book Of European Archaeology," p. 383.
1933
, MacCurdy, George Grant  "Human Origins, A Manual Of Prehistory, Vol. 1," p. XXVI.
1937
, Jenness, Diamond, "Arrow Straighteners, Thong Smoothers and Batons de Commandement," p. 73.
1948
, Larsen, Helge & Rainey, Froelich, "Iputak And The Arctic Whale Hunting Culture," p. 67 & plate 42.
1961
, Braidwood, Robert J., "Prehistoric Men," p. 83.
1961, Oakley, Kenneth P., "Man The Tool-Maker," p. 62.
1967
, Leroi-Gourhan, Andre "Treasures Of Prehistoric Art," pp. 59-63, 396 & 472.
1973
, Francois Bordes, "The Old Stone Age," p. 242.
1976
, Jelinek, J., "The Pictorial Encyclopedia Of The Evolution Of Man," p. 314.
1983
, Kraft, Herbert C. & DeCicco, Gabriel, "The Search For Humanity's Roots," p. 42.
1998, Heite, Louise. "Spear Straightener Or Spinning Tool?" Mammoth Trumpet, Vol. 12, No. 3, pp. 18-19.
1999,Laird, Roderick D. "Experiments Confirm Likely Usage of Murray Springs Bone Tool," Mammoth Trumpet, Vol. 14, No. 2, pp. 18-19.
2001, Vasil'ev, Sergey A., "The Final Paleolithic In Northern Asia: Lithic Assemblage Diversity And Explanatory Models," Arctic Anthropology, vo. 38, no. 2, p.8.
2002, Haynes, Gary "The Early Settlement Of North America, The Clovis Era," pp. 122-124.
2003, White, Randall, "Prehistoric Art, The Symbolic Journey Of Humankind," pp. 106-107.
2009, Gramly, Richard Michael, Personal Communication
2009, Guerri, Elmer A., Personal Communication.
2009, Vesper, Dennis, Personal Communication.

RECENT LISTINGS    HOME    ORDERING