The Terramare/3 – Bone and Horn
Deer antlers (or more precisely, antler beams) and various animal bones were used to make tools and objects for daily use—such as handles for bronze points, needles, awls, arrows, and items of personal adornment.
Spatulas had multiple functions, likely including the smoothing of pottery surfaces.
Wear patterns on comb teeth suggest whether they were used to tighten the weft of woven textiles or to groom hair. The small wheels were likely used as pinheads for bronze pins, although this remains a hypothesis. The decoration on these two types of objects—engraved with triangular motifs or perfectly circular patterns—reveals an exceptional level of craftsmanship.
Even more intricate is the decoration on the large disk: its entire surface is covered with concentric lines, wavy patterns alternating with dots, and lines made of tiny impressions.
Small amber inlays were likely inserted into the circular recesses, including the central one. This object is unique, and various interpretations have been proposed—most recently, that it represents a solar disk, comparable to contemporary gold foils with similar engravings, and/or that it served as a symbol of power.
Bit struts were almost certainly reserved for the few individuals wealthy enough to own horses. As for the arrows, it remains uncertain whether they were used in combat or—less likely—for hunting.