Distinctive features of ivory working technology and main tools for making portable art items from the Malta collection

A new stage in the studies of the Malta Paleolithic ’classical’ collection ofitems made from mammoth ivory is linked to an issue of probable cultural differentiation,distinctive features of materials in the Siberian and Eurasian contexts as well as opportunitiesfor more detailed microscopic analysis of technological assemblages. The technologicalanalysis made it possible to systemize techniques of working with ivory, methods appliedto give a specific shape to items and ornament portable art items; correlate morphologicaltypes, technological processes and sets of stone implements employed. The characteristicsof technological traces on ivory tusks helped identify a consistent set of tools andtechniques, which implies the use of a standard technology and mass-production of ivoryitems for various purposes. In some cases, elements of more advanced tusk workingtechnologies have been reported, which is taken to mean the presence of (chronologicallyand culturally) a different component.