ABSTRACT
In 1961 a large number of worked antlers and antler fragments were found during the construction of a new canal with a lock near Zwolle in the province of Overijssel in the Netherlands. Although Zwolle has traditionally been one of the IJssel towns, it is not situated directly on the bank of this river but on the bank of the Zwarte Water (black water), a small waterway running in a northerly direction towards the former Zuiderzee. The work started in 1961 and was supervised by the State. The main contractors of the harbour and lock complex near Zwolle were the firms of Prins van Wijngaarden & Van Hattem and Blankevoort. The objects came to light during dredging operations in the IJssel foreshore south of the Bandijk. The depth of the finds was probably between four and six metres, since it was only when sand was sucked up from that depth that antler objects came to light.
