ABSTRACT
In the course of cleaning the remains of white-tailed deer from preceramic Guila Naquitz, the researchers discovered five fragments of antler tine that appeared to have been deliberately modified. Most were so badly broken that it was difficult to estimate the original size of the artifact, but the longest had probably once been in the 7—10-cm range. Three of our specimens show extensive striations near the tip that presumably resulted from their use as artifacts. To be sure, bucks frequently rub their antlers against trees to get the last of the “velvet” off and sometimes spar with other bucks in ways that result in damage to the antlers. Each major living floor at Guila Naquitz had at least one antler artifact.
