Digging Stick

Digging sticks were traditionally used by San women throughout southern Africa to excavate the ground in search of roots and bulbs. The stick, sharpened at one end, was used to probe the soil for roots and bulbs. Sometimes the stick was weighted with a bored stone to give it extra impact to loosen the soil. A wooden peg was inserted between the bored stone and the digging stick to prevent it from falling off.

Bored stones also served other purposes. They were used to process food, sharpen implements, shape beads and make fires. On special occasions, it is said that women banged stones on the ground in order to call the spirits of the dead.