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Mississippi Valley Archaeology Center / Past Cultures

Artifacts

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Rasp

Bone Rasp Few musical instruments have survived, although music was undoubtedly an important part of the lives of the area’s first inhabitants.  The most common artifact is a rasp, usually made from the rib of a deer or bison.  It was probably played by rubbing a stick across the grooves on the rasp.  Rasps are one of the most distinctive artifacts of the Late Prehistoric/Proto-Historic period, from about 1500 to 1700 AD. (Bison bone rasp, Oneota, Houston County, MN)

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MVAC Educational Programs are supported in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities. Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in these programs do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities. This project was supported in part by the National Science Foundation. Opinions expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the Foundation.