How did bone tools help Paleolithic people make fishhooks and needles?

During the Late Paleolithic period, advancements in tool technology allowed humans to exploit materials like bone, antler, and ivory, which were previously considered unworkable due to their hardness.1

The creation of fishhooks and needles was made possible through the use of specialized stone tools, most notably the burin. This stout, narrow-bladed flint tool was used to scrape parallel grooves into a piece of bone. Once these grooves were cut, a sliver of bone could be detached to serve as the raw stock for crafting needles, pins, awls, or other small objects.1

To refine these items into their final forms, Paleolithic people utilized sandrock polishers to sharpen and shape the tips of needles and hooks. Additionally, larger pieces of bone were carved into hooks featuring one or more barbs or points. These innovations were part of a broader technological diversification that enabled the production of complex, specialized implements for hunting and daily life.1