Journal of Archaeology in the Low Countries 3-1 (November 2011)Wietske Prummel; Hülya Halici; Annemieke Verbaas: The bone and antler tools from the Wijnaldum-Tjitsma terp 1
6 The bone tools used in the five occupation phases

6.2 Migration period

Pin beaters, needles and two awls testify to fibre and possibly skin working during the Migration period. This phase is rich in one- and two-sided composite combs and fragments of broken composite combs. The only type 4 one-sided composite comb, with straight, narrow side plates and winged end tooth plates, and the only complete two-sided composite comb were found in this phase.

Three astragali and two die (fig. 20) and perhaps the three antler rings (fig. 15) could be linked to ritual and magic. Two of the astragali are from very young calves, as indicated by the small size and the porous structure of the bones. Both are perforated from plantar to dorsal (fig. 19). The third is from a young sheep (or goat) and has traces of being worked. The two die – the only two at the site – are made out of sheep metatarsi (table 5; fig. 20).

Two skates and an antler checker demonstrate leisure activities. However, skating may have been a form of transport. Six pieces of waste red deer and elk antler show that antler was processed at the site during this phase.