A shattered ivory artifact unearthed a few years ago during an Ice Age excavation in southwestern Germany almost makes you want to point at it with witchcraft intent, like the crooked finger of a fairy-tale witch. Similar objects have been discovered across the continent in the past century, all of which has led to speculation about the objects’ purpose. Cut into dots, holes punched, thoughts turned into sticks and wands. Or maybe flutes or symbols of occult power. Ritual and magic tools.

Archaeologist Nicolas Konard of the University of Tübingen in Germany and his colleague Wehrle Roths of the University of Liège in Belgium are much more realistic in their thinking and suggest that the discovery of sticks was used to weave things. . except spells. Now two researchers have presented a proof of concept that supports their hypothesis.

In 2015, Conard, Roths and a team of fellow researchers found 13 pieces of worked mammoth ivory in Hole Fels Cave in the Ach Valley, a 40,000-year-old habitat currently famous for the discovery of what is believed to be the oldest depiction. a human figure.

The pieces of ivory fit together perfectly to form an object that is 20.4 centimeters (about 8 inches) long and has four holes large enough to fit a pencil through. The carved ivory rod has no obvious purpose, at least not at first glance.

However, due to the excellent condition of the preserved grooves and the plant fibers sifted from the surrounding soil, Conard and Rots were convinced that it was a tool for making rope, one of the most valuable resources of the Stone Age.

“This tool answers the question of how rope was made in the Paleolithic period, a question that has puzzled scientists for decades,” Roths said in 2016.

Objects made of stone, antler and ivory can last thousands of years, while less durable materials such as plant fiber fade over time.

But twine, rope and thread were vital products during the Paleolithic period, used to bind and secure everything from packaging to weapons, food and clothing. It is incredible that there is no technology that can easily produce such a material.

To further demonstrate that the artifact was intended for cord making, along with a second, less well-preserved “hole bar” (or Lochstab in German) found below the Heisenklesterle cave site, Conard and Roths recreated their own Lochstab and placed it there. put it to the test.

It was clear from the beginning that the wand would not be practical or necessary for making finer ropes and threads. But by using the holes as guides, thicker cords of two to four strands can be twisted quickly and efficiently.

Researchers tested a variety of materials, including deer sinew, hemp, flax, and nettle, and found that cattail fiber, lime, and willow gave the best results. With four to five participants holding the Lochstab replica and feeding the threads, the researchers were able to weave 5 meters of quality cattail rope that was both strong and flexible in just 10 minutes.

Like any copying, an experiment cannot prove beyond doubt that the works serve the same purpose or are necessarily used in the same way. After all, just because a vintage work can be used creatively in fashion doesn’t mean it is.

Objects like this can also be used in a few different ways; for example, to hold shafts when inserting bullet points or aligning pieces of wood. Combined with microscopic analysis of Hohle Fels Lochstab grooves and plant fibers from the region, the mystery of how high-quality ropes were made thousands of years ago could be solved.