Mesolithic bone hammer made of a perforated upper portion of the right radius of an Aurochs - wild ox. This bone hammer was found in the Thames at Kew. Antler and bone tools like this one dated from 9000- 4000BC were mostly made of red deer antler. All of the samples found are perforated for the insertion of a wooden haft and were probably used for digging up edible roots and tubers. There are two main groups of mesolithic bone tools: the earlier pieces were made from the portion of the antler attached to the animal's skull and are known as antler-base mattocks. The later pieces were made from the main antler shaft and are referred to as antler-beam mattocks.

9000 BC - 4000 BC

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