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Scraper

Object

Flint tool

Object number

1991.659

Physical Description

Flint, triangular, one flat side, angled edges on other, red and white paper label, black.

Associated Person

Joseph Exhall Greenhill (Archaeologist)

Dimension

Length: 35mm
Width: 28mm
Depth: 9mm

Exhibition Label

From ‘Hackney 300,000 BC: Meet the Neanderthal neighbours and curious creatures of the borough's Old Stone Age’

Scrapers

The sharp edges of scrapers were used to clean fat from animal skins.

The number of scrapers found from the Old Stone Age shows that this was an important regular task, and suggests that the users - the Neanderthals - were using animal skins, like furs or leather, for clothing.

The ability to create and wear clothing for protection from colder winters was important for life in the northern extremes of their territory, such as in Britain.

On display?

No