Antler Sleeves from the Neolithic Lake-Dwelling Sites of Switzerland (the “Swiss Collection” of the National Museum of Tatarstan Republic, Kazan)

The article deals with assemblage of Neolithic antler tools – sleeves originated from the lake-dwelling sites of Switzerland, which are stored at National Museum of Tatarstan Republic. The morphological and technological analyses of 94 connecting devices between the wooden haft and stone axe or adze (sleeves) have been carried out by the authors. The typology scheme has been made. Four unequal groups were singled out: 1) elementary device with one mounting hole for the stone tool of adze or chisel function (1 instance); 2) a pick-axe shaped device with hafting hole (1); 3) sleeve of cylindrical shape with two holes (4 instances); 4) sleeve with one mounting hole (88). The last one consists of 4 types depending on the presence or absence of clear-cut hafting part and functional or nonfunctional ledge as well as remnant of the burr. The authors consider some aspects of use-wear and technology of the production of Neolithic antler sleeves investigated, such as string-saw technique, according to the results of multidiscipline and experimental studies held by European researchers (Jorg Schibler et al.)