Stone Age people could probably use it to produce up to five meters of rope within ten minutes. Experts examined two perforated rods made of mammoth ivory discovered in the Swabian Alb in more detail.
The four-hole objects are well suited to making ropes, especially from cattail leaves (Typha), a group of plants that probably already grew in the Achtal at that time. Until now, experts considered them to be symbols of power or art objects; they were only considered to have practical value as levers.