Laitemaking

Laitemaking is the historical craft of creating items from bone. Historically, bone was a readily available material, often sourced from the remains of domesticated animals or game. Artisans, known as laitemakers, would carefully select, shape, and polish bone to produce a variety of functional and decorative objects.

The process involved several steps. First, bone was cleaned and prepared, often by boiling or soaking to remove residual tissue. Then, it was shaped using tools such as knives, saws, and files. Grinding and polishing with abrasive materials like sand or pumice were used to achieve a smooth finish. Decorations could be incised, carved, or inlaid.

Laitemaking produced a wide array of items. These included tools like needles, awls, and buttons, as well as more decorative pieces such as combs, beads, and small figurines. In some cultures, bone was also used for religious or ceremonial objects. The skill of a laitemaker lay in their ability to transform a raw, organic material into durable and often intricate artifacts. While industrial production has largely replaced this craft for many everyday items, laitemaking continues to be practiced by some artisans and archaeologists study historical laitemaking to understand past technologies and economies.