Abstract: Organic objects of bone, antler, and ivory etc. widely appeared in the Upper Paleolithic, and serve as signals of behavioral innovation of modern humans. Bone and antler tools which were elegantly and intensively produced through complex technological sequence, were used for various tasks and the intensive exploitation of resources. Bone and antler tools, together with other innovations in the Upper Paleolithic expands human’s niche and facilitates modern human adaptation in northern Eurasia. This paper provides a brief review on the study of the bone and antler tools in the Upper Paleolithic of southwestern Germany. Our observations show that animal bones and antlers were often carefully selected for making tools. The availability ?of ?raw? material? significantly? depends? on ?the ?animal? resources ?that ?foragers? were ?able? to hunt and acquire. Besides this the physical properties including the structure of bone and antler can ?affect ?the ?easiness ?and? efficiency? of ?manufacture,? as? well? as ?the? effectiveness ?and ?duration? of? the tool. The techniques of opening bones and making blank for tool production could be varied depending on the original shape of the bone. Nevertheless, grooving-splintering technique plays a key role in making standardized and well-shaped blanks or preforms of bone and antler, and it allows ?further ?shaping ?and? modification? easier? and? efficient.? The ?bone? and ?antler? tool ?industry ?in? the context of Chinese and European Upper Paleolithic shows similar technological concept and operation, as well as tool type. However, the Chinese records of bone and antler tools are scarce, and? the? wedging? and? splintering? or? grooving-splintering? techniques? have? rarely? been? identified.? Finally, we have a discussion about what might be responsible for the ‘difference’ in bone and antler tool production in China, and proposed the direction for future work.

Key words: Upper Paleolithic; Germany; Bone and antler tools; Human behavior; Regional variability