BONE FISHHOOKS
MISSISSIPPIAN CULTURE
ILLINOIS, SOUTH DAKOTA & KENTUCKY
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COPYRIGHT MARCH 31, 2009 PETER A. BOSTROM

   These ten deer and turkey bone fishhooks were found on late Stone Age sites in Illinois, South Dakota and Kentucky. Many of the smaller delicate fishhooks were most likely made from turkey bone and the larger examples from deer bone. The largest fishhook in this picture measures 1 9/16 inches (4 cm) long and 1 inch (2.5 cm) wide. These fishhooks are made in the classic u-shaped design that has been in use by cultures around the world for thousands of years. Although most ancient fishhooks don't have a barb on the point, the same basic design is still used today. U-shaped bronze fishhooks were also made in Europe during the Bronze Age about 3,000 years ago. Copper U-shaped hooks were made in the Great Lakes region by the Old Copper Culture 6,000 years ago. U-shaped fishhooks also appear in the Jomon tool kit in Japan between 9,000 and 10,000 years ago.

10 u-shaped fishhooks made of deer bone.

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